held up behind, headway on outside 3 out, challenged between last 2, ridden to lead narrowly flat, kept on, headed post
mid-division on inside, tracked leaders after 4 out, ridden after 2 out, kept on same pace, weakened flat
mid-division, outpaced before 3 out, soon weakened and behind
mid-division on outside, headway 3 out, led approaching last, ridden and headed narrowly flat, kept on
led, tended to jump right, ridden and headed before last when went right, no extra flat, just held on for 4th
tracked leaders, outpaced 3 out, lost place next, soon weakened
in touch, effort 3 out, kept on same pace from next, no impression when bumped last
tracked leaders, outpaced 2 out, soon weakened
held up behind on outside, headway 3 out, switched inside and chased leaders before last, ridden and kept on flat, just failed for 4th
in touch, lost place 9th, behind from 4 out
tracked leaders, effort on inside 2 out, ridden and weakened before last
towards rear, outpaced 3 out, never dangerous, tailed off
with leaders, lost place 4 out, soon behind, tailed off
mid-division, outpaced 4 out, ridden 2 out, stayed on to chase leaders before last, never on terms
held up towards rear, outpaced 3 out, never near leaders
behind on outside, pushed along 9th, stayed on into mid-division from 2 out, never nearer
mid-division on inside, driven to chase leaders after 3 out, disputed 3rd and still plenty to do when bumped last, switched left and ran on well final 100 yards, led post
Cross Kennon won this in 2010 and was second last year off a higher mark. Jennie Candlish's grand servant can't be ignored. Monetary Fund, who looked on the way back at Musselburgh last week, was third 12 months ago but has 6lb more to carry this year. Southfield Theatre is interesting as he was completing a hat-trick when scoring by five lengths at Wincanton last month, though makes his handicap debut off a stiff enough mark. His yard also run top weight Salubrious while Bally Legend and Silver Eagle arrive in form and Lamb Or Cod had Araldur behind when narrowly failing to win a Grade 3 for a second time at Chepstow last month. Close House and stablemate Edmund Kean aren't without a chance but Victrix Gale was due to run over fences here yesterday. SUNNYHILLBOY was lightly campaigned last season but has a rating of 152 over fences and is also thrown in on his old form over hurdles which included victories in Listed events at Sandown and Aintree. He is well worth risking on his reappearance.
Salubrious (IRE) 10-1 (10-12) Towards rear of mid-division, headway before 3 out, soon chased leaders, effort next, ridden and kept on same pace flat, lost 4th near finish, 5th of 21, 9l behind Minella Forfitness (10-3) at Aintree 2m 4f Listed hcp hdl (1) gs in Apr.
Close House 12-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, ridden and every chance approaching last, no extra flat, 9th of 17, 13l behind Big Easy (10-13) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) sft in Apr.
Araldur (FR) 7-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, headway after 7th, ridden in 6th when mistake 3 out, one pace and no impression in 5th when mistake last, 5th of 11, 8l behind Shammick Boy (10-13) at Chepstow 2m 4f hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft in Oct.
Southfield Theatre (IRE) 4-5fav (11-7) Held up tracking leaders going well, headway to 2nd 3 out, led before 2 out, clear betwen last 2, mistake last, kept on strongly run-in, won at Wincanton 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Oct beating Padre Tito (10-9) by 5l, 7 ran.
Cross Kennon (IRE) 25-1 (11-12) In touch in mid-division, headway approaching 8th, no impression on leaders before last, 8th of 20, 12l behind Trackmate (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl (2) gd in Oct.
Bally Legend 20-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, headway before 2 out, led before last, kept on well, won at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Oct beating Nicky Nutjob (9-7) by 10l, 10 ran.
Gauvain (GER) 10-1 (10-13) Held up in touch, challenged 2 out (normal 5 out), ridden after home turn, no impression on winner final 2f, 2nd of 7, 8l behind Ely Brown (10-1) at Aintree 3m hcp hdl (2) gd in Oct.
Recession Proof (FR) 12-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders on inside, lost place 3 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace, 5th of 15, 8l behind Al Ferof (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m nov hdl Grade 1 (1) gd in Mar '11.
Pineau De Re (FR) 5-1 (11-2) Mid-division on outside, chased leaders 4 out, ridden 2 out, kept on flat, went 3rd post, no impression with front pair, 3rd of 9, 9l behind Pantxoa (10-6) at Ffos Las 3m 1f hcp chs (2) gd in Aug.
Silver Eagle (IRE) 3-1fav (11-3) Prominent until after 2nd, tracked leaders, not fluent 3 out, ridden in close 2nd after 2 out, not fluent last, stayed on, 2nd of 15, 3/4l behind Thomas Crapper (10-9) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-140 (3) gs in Oct.
Lamb Or Cod (IRE) 9-2 (11-1) Raced wide, chased leader, led after 4th, headed before 4 out, chased leader and every chance when mistake 3 out, soon lost 2nd, rallied before last, went 2nd run-in, no impression on winner, 2nd of 11, 2l behind Shammick Boy (10-13) at Chepstow 2m 4f hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft in Oct.
Edmund Kean (IRE) 9-2fav (11-6) Held up in touch in mid-division, steady headway to chase leaders after 3 out, ridden and one pace when mistake 2 out, rallied last went 3rd post, no chance with easy winner, 3rd of 16, 12l behind Close Touch (11-6) at Sandown 2m 4f (1) hvy in Mar.
Cinevator (IRE) 10-1 (11-2) Tracked leader, blundered and lost place 5th, reminders 7th, tailed off before 10th, pulled up before 11th, in a race won by Annacotty (11-4) at Kempton 3m nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs, 10 ran.
Monetary Fund (USA) 12-5fav (11-6) Tracked leaders, effort 3 out, stayed on same pace approaching last, 3rd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Arctic Court (10-12) at Musselburgh 3m hcp hdl (2) gd.
Sunnyhillboy (IRE) 20-1 (11-4) Mid-division on outside, struggling 17th, no danger after, behind when hampered and unseated rider last, in a race won by Auroras Encore (10-3) at Aintree 4m 3f (1) gs in Apr, 40 ran.
Red Not Blue (IRE) 33-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders on outside, ridden after 7th, weakened before 3 out, tailed off, 9th of 15, well behind Thomas Crapper (10-9) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-140 (3) gs in Oct.
Return Spring (IRE) 5-2fav (11-6) Towards rear, headway 6th, went 2nd at last, kept on and no chance with winner, 2nd of 9, 5l behind Cowards Close (11-0) at Exeter 2m 7f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Apr.
Victrix Gale (IRE) 3-1fav (11-8) Held up towards rear, ridden in 11th before straight, no impression in 8th 2 out, ran on from last to 3rd closing stages, 3rd of 17, 6l behind Blackwell Synergy (11-4) at Listowel 3m hcp hdl sft in Sep.
Greyfriars Drummer 11-4fav (11-4) Tracked leader, led before 4 out, ridden and clear from last, won at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Aug '12 beating Great Value (11-7) by 5l, 11 ran.
