held up in touch, ridden and close up over 3f out, weakened over 1f out
led, headed over 3f out, 4th and no extra from over 1f out
held up towards rear, headway over 3f out, went 2nd over 2f out until inside final furlong, kept on same pace
mostly chased leader, green on bend after about 2f, pushed along over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
mid-division, pushed along to close 6f out, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
held up in touch, closed after 3f, challenged over 4f out, led over 3f out, driven from over 1f out, headed close home
held up in rear, headway on outside over 6f out, weakened from over 2f out
held up in touch, outpaced 4f out, rallied from over 2f out, went 2nd inside final furlong, led close home
prominent, lost place 8f out, well beaten final 4f
towards rear, headway 8f out, ridden over 5f out, soon weakened
This may turn out to be an above-average bumper. Sporting Ace finished second at Wetherby after a close-up fifth at Newbury. Sporting Mike has won between the flags while Paul Nicholls sent out the winner of this in 2020 and introduces the £60,000 purchase Makin'yourmindup, who placed in a point in Ireland. MASTER CHEWY is another potentially-useful recruit from that sphere and cost £300,000. His yard won this last year so he is likely to know what’s required. Etalon is a half-brother to hurdle and chase winner Prince Escalus while Rockinastorm and Blue Hop are already winners. I Am Rocco is a half-brother to two winners but he might come into his own when going hurdling.
Blue Hop (IRE) 3-1 (11-8) Chased leaders on inside, went 2nd going well 3f out, ridden inside final 2f, led inside final furlong, ran on well, won at Ffos Las 2m (5) hvy in Dec beating Athgarvan (11-8) by 3l, 6 ran.
Rockinastorm (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) Led, headed 12f out, led again over 3f out, ridden clear over 1f out, eased towards finish, won at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 1f (5) sft in Dec beating Barrowdale (11-0) by 18l, 11 ran.
Etalon (IRE) Sholokhov gelding out of So You Said.
Jubilee Express (FR) 8-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, ridden over 3f out, switched left over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 14, 11 3/4l behind Crambo (11-0) at Huntingdon 2m (5) sft in Dec.
Makin'yourmindup (11-11) Pr, 1l adv 1/2way, sl mstk 4out, jnd 3out & sn hdd, rdn aftr 2out, drpd to 3rd appr str, ko onepce, 3rd of 6, 7l behind Supreme Gift (11-11) at Tattersalls 3m mdn gd in May.
Master Chewy (IRE) 7-2 (11-11) Mid-div & ww, mstk 7th, prog bef 3out, 2nd bef 2out, wide bef last & still ev ch in 2nd at last, no ex early flat, 3rd of 11, 1 1/2l behind Present Soldier (11-11) at Tattersalls 3m mdn gs in Nov.
Sonnemoser (FR) 25-1 (11-0) Towards rear early, headway into mid-division at halfway, travelled strongly on to heels of leaders 3f out, effort to press for lead over 1f out, kept on same pace, 4th of 14, 7 1/4l behind Marco Island (11-0) at Chepstow 2m (5) gs in Dec.
Sporting Ace (IRE) 11-2 (11-0) Tracked leaders, pushed along 3f out, ridden to chase winner approaching final furlong, kept on one pace, 2nd of 12, 4 1/2l behind Grey Dawning (11-0) at Wetherby 2m (5) sft in Dec.
Sporting Mike (IRE) 3-1 (11-11) Pr, 3rd 1/2way, went 2nd aftr 3out, rdn appr str, 1l dwn 2out, chall ldr last, kow run-in to get up cl hm, won at Damma House 3m mdn gd in Nov beating Everyonesgame (11-11) by hd, 9 ran.
Testflight Kayf Tara gelding out of Molly Flight.
I Am Rocco Kayf Tara gelding out of Isabello.
King's Threshold (IRE) 9-1 (11-0) Raced in mid-division, ridden and outpaced 3f out, kept on 2f, ran on well inside final furlong, not reach leaders, 3rd of 9, 14 1/4l behind Filanderer (11-0) at Warwick 2m (5) hvy in Dec.
Copperkin 125-1 (10-12) Held up in touch, pushed along 6f out, soon lost place, well beaten final 4f, 14th of 15, dist behind Poetic Music (10-5) at Cheltenham 1m 6f lst (1) sft in Jan.
