led until 2nd, led after 3rd, headed 4th, led after 7th, headed 10th, 3 1/2 lengths 4th when pecked 2 out, soon weakened
chased leaders, lost place before 8th, behind when not fluent 11th, pulled up before 4 out
held up in mid-division, lost place when hampered 5th, some headway 12th, no impression, mistake 3 out, soon well behind
in rear, some slow jumps, headway 13th, weakened 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
held up in mid-division, struggling when not fluent 11th, behind and mistake next, pulled up before 4 out
chased leaders, challenged before 2 out, no impression on winner last, kept on
held up in rear, hampered 5th, blundered badly 10th, pulled up before 11th
held up towards rear, not fluent 1st, hampered 13th, stayed on from 2 out, never nearer
chased leaders on outside, mistake 7th, struggling 11th, well behind when pulled up before 2 out
prominent early, chased leaders, struggling 13th, well behind 4 out
prominent, led 2nd, headed after next, led 4th, headed after 7th, led 10th, not fluent 13th, jumped right 3 out, headed before 2 out, soon beaten
held up towards rear, mistake when some headway 13th, stayed on from 2 out, mistake last
pulled hard, chasing leaders 4th, challenged 10th, led before 2 out, soon headed, 3rd and no extra last
chased leaders, mistake and lost place 3rd, headway 11th, mistake 12th and 13th, led before 2 out, clear last, stayed on strongly
chased leaders, pulled hard, steadied 3rd, fell 5th
held up rear of mid-division, brought down 5th
held up in mid-division, mistake 13th, no impression from 4 out
Significant rain would undoubtedly change the complexion of this race and increase the chances of last month’s Paddy Power winner Coole Cody but he may struggle to confirm running with third Al Dancer, who gave weight and a beating to Master Tommytucker at Newton Abbot earlier, under today's forecast conditions. Saint Sonnet would also benefit from softer ground, as would Irish raider Chatham Street Lad, Cepage and Annie Mc. Midnight Shadow likes it here and has had a pipe-opener but one can imagine Bryony Frost creeping SOUTHFIELD STONE into contention on the final circuit. The seven-year-old, still a novice, was probably facing an almost-impossible task trying to give weight to the flying Protektorat here last month and has been dropped 3lb since. Huntsman Son returned with a win and doesn’t have many miles on the clock with Musical Slave also worth a market check further down the handicap.
Master Tommytucker 2-1fav (11-8) Made all, jumped well, eased clear before 2 out, stayed on well, won at Haydock 2m 6f (2) sft in Nov beating Good Boy Bobby (11-8) by 15l, 6 ran.
Cepage (FR) 14-1 (11-8) In touch, headway to lead after 8th, headed narrowly 2 out, soon ridden, lost place after last, weakened closing stages, 7th of 23, 10 1/2l behind The Conditional (10-6) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Al Dancer (FR) 5-1fav (11-8) Mid-division, not fluent 6th,, headway 11th, went 2nd 3 out until before 2 out, 4th when pecked last, went 3rd towards finish, kept on, no impression on winner, 3rd of 16, 4 1/4l behind Coole Cody (10-5) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (1) sft in Nov.
Huntsman Son (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, headway going well before 3 out, went 2nd next, led before last, pushed clear flat, won at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp lst (1) gs in Oct beating Two For Gold (11-5) by 5 1/2l, 11 ran.
Windsor Avenue (IRE) 11-2 (11-2) Midfield, chased leaders 4 out, lost ground 3 out, stayed on from last, took 2nd close home, 2nd of 6, 2 1/2l behind Imperial Aura (11-6) at Carlisle 2m 4f lst (1) hvy in Nov.
Midnight Shadow 7-1 (11-4) Prominent, not fluent 2nd, weakened 2 out, 10th of 12, 31 1/4l behind Nuts Well (11-10) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (1) sft in Oct.
Saint Sonnet (FR) 6-1 (11-1) Chased leaders, not fluent 5th, went 2nd 12th until 3 out, soon weakened, fell last, at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (1) sft in Nov.
Good Boy Bobby (IRE) 9-4 (11-8) Chased leader, clear of rest when ridden behind leader 4 out, well behind leader 2 out, kept on, 2nd of 6, 15l behind Master Tommytucker (11-8) at Haydock 2m 6f (2) sft in Nov.
Drumconnor Lad (IRE) 11-1 (10-12) Behind, mistake 5th and 6th, struggling from 7th, never dangerous, 6th of 8, 17 1/2l behind First Flow (11-1) at Ascot 2m 1f hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Southfield Stone 11-4 (11-10) Chased winner, not fluent 12th, challenged 3 out, soon ridden and outpaced, no impression before 2 out, 2nd of 4, 17l behind Protektorat (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 4f (2) gs in Nov.
Coole Cody (IRE) 10-1 (10-5) Prominent, led 3rd, sprawled badly on landing 4th, clear before 6th, not fluent 11th, reduced lead after 4 out, mistake 3 out, pressed from 2 out, edged right flat, stayed on well and in command final 100 yards, won at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (1) sft in Nov beating Spiritofthegames (11-2) by 3 1/4l, 16 ran.
Annie Mc (IRE) 17-2 (10-13) Towards rear, some headway on outside 4 out, soon outpaced, well held 2 out, 7th of 12, 12 1/2l behind Nuts Well (11-10) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (1) sft in Oct.
Benatar (IRE) 7-2fav (11-9) Raced keenly, tracked leaders on inside, went 2nd at 3rd, never near winner, hit 9th and 12th, went left and lost remote 2nd 3 out, weakened before next, 7th of 10, dist behind Cyrname (11-10) at Ascot 2m 5f hcp (2) gs in Jan.
Chatham Street Lad (IRE) 85-40fav (11-0) Slight mistake 1st, slightly impeded 2nd, soon mid-division, 6th after 4th, slight mistake 5 out, closed approaching straight, slight mistake 3 out, led between last 2, asserted and stayed on well run-in, easily, won at Cork 2m 1f hcp hvy in Nov beating Off You Go (11-10) by 5l, 11 ran.
Champagne Mystery (IRE) 25-1 (11-5) Prominent, led 2nd, headed before 6th, not fluent 8th, not fluent and short of room 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out, at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp lst (1) sft in Mar.
Romain De Senam (FR) 7-1 (11-11) Held up in mid-division, not fluent 4th, headway 2 out, disputing 3rd last, one pace flat, 4th of 8, 5 1/4l behind The Big Bite (11-12) at Aintree 2m hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Militarian 17-2 (10-4) Held up in mid-division on outside, mistake 2nd, not fluent 4th, headway 12th, 5th 2 out, stayed on approaching last, went 3rd flat, no chance with front pair, 3rd of 14, 14 1/4l behind Regal Encore (10-10) at Ascot 3m hcp (1) sft in Oct.
