held up, headway under pressure after 3 out, stayed on to take 3rd flat, no impression on front pair
raced keenly, rear of mid-division, headway approaching 2 out, chased winner when jumped left last, stayed on, no impression
held up towards rear, well behind approaching 3 out
chased leaders, ridden 2 out, weakened approaching last
raced keenly, mid-division on outside, progress after 3rd, mistake 5th, disputing 2nd from 3 out until mistake 2 out, beaten when jumped left and mistake last, one pace
held up towards rear, ridden 3 out, struggling after
in touch, weakening when jumped slowly 4th, soon in rear, not fluent next
in touch, ridden before 3 out, weakening when not much room approaching 2 out
mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, under pressure when switched right approaching last, stayed on same pace last
chased leaders, hit 3rd, weakened after 2 out
held up, well behind approaching 3 out, stayed on approaching last, never nearer
mid-division, headway after 3 out, went 2nd after 2 out, soon led, in command last, ran on well, comfortably
in touch, mistake 5th, weakened approaching 3 out
chased leader, mistake 2nd, not fluent 3rd, lost 2nd after next, weakened after 5th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders, disputing 2nd from 3 out until just after 2 out, beaten last, stayed on same pace flat
chased leaders, lost place after 2nd, pushed along briefly after 4th, struggling after next, no impression after
held up, headway and hung left approaching last, no further progress
prominent, went 2nd approaching 5th until 3 out, beaten when mistake 2 out
held up towards rear, headway on inside after 2 out, never really in contention
Donaldson seems to be getting the hand of things and looks interesting off a light weight, however ADVANCEMENT's form looks solid and he gets the verdict ahead of Noble Alan and Leo's Lucky Star. Loads of winners in the line-up and lots of potential improvers so it's hard to be too bullish, however the selections' second in a Listed contest at Market Rasen reads well. As long as the ground doesn't come up quick, this progressive gelding can take another leap forward in his career. Noble Alan wasn't really expected to win up at Perth last time but he ran on well and looks the sort to appreciate the likely strong pace; that Perth form has been franked and it would be unwise to rule him out. Film Festival can run better now back over hurdles despite being out of the weights, whilst Nigel Twiston-Davies won the race last year and is represented by Distiller. Beherayn is a wee bit quirky but this bigger occasion may suit him although he will have competition for the lead; he is held by Chaninbar on their Worcester clash in June. Font is unexposed and impressed when winning a weak race at Wincanton. Robert The Brave is consistent, along with the hat-trick seeking Shore Thing who is bound for better things but needs to reverse the form with Donaldson from August. Leo's Lucky Star deserves to head the weights after some easy wins recently but he may struggle to give weight to Advancement who gets our vote.
Leo's Lucky Star (USA) 5-6fav (11-12) Held up, headway approaching 3 out, led 2 out, easily, won at Sedgefield 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gf in Sept beating Rising Force (11-5) by 10l, 8 ran.
Noble Alan (GER) 6-1 (11-5) Raced keenly, mid-division, headway 3 out, led after next, stayed on well, won at Perth 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Sept beating Mhilu (11-5) by 6l, 14 ran.
Cnoc Moy (IRE) 1-2fav (11-1) In touch, ridden 3 out, chased winner before last, stayed on one pace flat, 2nd of 6, 5l behind Chaninbar (10-12) at Fakenham 2m nov hdl (4) gf in May.
Beherayn 1-2fav (11-12) Led to 4th, with leader, took narrow lead 3 out, not fluent last, soon hard ridden, headed close home, 2nd of 8, nk behind Chaninbar (11-5) at Worcester 2m hdl (4) gd in Jun.
Shore Thing (IRE) 9-1 (11-8) Held up, in touch, headway from 3 out, led last, ran on well, won at Towcester 2m mdn hdl (3) gd beating Right Stuff (10-12) by 1 1/2l, 12 ran.
Advancement 4-1fav (10-1) Tracked leaders and keen, chased winner from 2 out, one pace, 2nd of 15, 4l behind Katies Tuitor (11-3) at Market Rasen 2m 1f lst hcp hdl (1) sft in Jul.
Chaninbar (FR) 25-1 (11-8) Slowly away, held up, hit 2nd, closed 4th, went 2nd 6th, not fluent 7th or 3 out, challenging when blundered 2 out, slight lead last, soon headed, not pace of winner flat, 2nd of 7, 1 1/2l behind Albinus (10-9) at Huntingdon 2m nov chs (3.
Robert The Brave 14-1 (11-4) Mid-division, headway approaching 7th, ridden after 3 out, one pace, 3rd of 13, 13l behind William Butler (10-7) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gs in Sept.
Distiller (IRE) 12-1 (10-1) Mid-division, ridden approaching 5th, plugged on, 5th of 12, 13l behind Crack Away Jack (11-7) at Chepstow 2m hcp hdl (2) gd.
Southern Regent (UAE) 7-2fav (10-3) Mid-division, headway after 3rd, struggling 5th, weakened 3 out, 10th of 11, 41l behind Sporazene (11-4) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gf in Aug.
Chord 9-4fav (10-12) Tracked leader, led 3 out, ridden and headed after next, one pace approaching final furlong, 3rd of 14, 8l behind Noble Alan (11-5) at Perth 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Sept.
Arctic Magic (IRE) 11-8fav (11-5) Held up, headway 7th, weakened approaching 2 out, 7th of 15, 49l behind Hora (10-9) at Hereford 2m 4f mrs nov hdl (4) gd in May.
Font 9-2 (10-12) Held up, headway afater 3 out to track leader, shaken up to lead after next, ran on, won at Wincanton 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Apr beating Sangfroid (10-7) by 5l, 5 ran.
Rising Force (IRE) 6-4 (11-5) Mid-division, ridden approaching 3 out, mistake 2 out, kept on, no chance with winner, 2nd of 8, 10l behind Leo's Lucky Star (11-12) at Sedgefield 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gf in Sept.
Donaldson (GER) 5-6fav (10-12) Chased leaders, led approaching 3 out, ridden approaching next, kept on gamely flat, won at Fontwell 2m 2f nov hdl (4) gf in Aug beating Shore Thing (11-5) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
Winsley Hill 8-1 (10-13) Held up, headway 5th, kept on under pressure flat, 2nd of 10, 3l behind King's Head (11-2) at Plumpton 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gf in Sept.
Sangfroid 14-1 (10-7) Tracked leader until after 3 out, soon ridden, kept on from last, regained 2nd final 75 yards, 2nd of 5, 5l behind Font (10-12) at Wincanton 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Apr.
Dark Energy 16-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, headway 2 out, never on terms, 5th of 12, 20l behind Shore Thing (11-8) at Towcester 2m mdn hdl (3) gd.
Film Festival (USA) 7-1 (11-0) Soon chasing winner until approaching 8th, hit 2 out, soon weakened, 7th of 12, 33l behind Orpen Wide (11-9) at Sedgefield 2m nov chs (4) gf in Sept.
Russian Flag (FR) 8-1 (11-8) In touch, ridden and chased leaders approaching 2 out, kept on from last, 3rd of 16, 3l behind Picot de Say (10-10) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs.
