mid-division, mistakes 2nd and 3rd, weakened 3 out
held up in rear, headway halfway, chased leaders 3 out, kept on under pressure
prominent, led 3 out, strongly challenged when fell next
pulled hard, tracked leaders, effort 2 out, stayed on same pace approaching last
tracked leaders, lost place before 2 out
mid-division, mistake 3 out, weakened next
mid-division, headway to chase leaders 5 out, weakeend after next
led until 3 out, weakened next
tracked leaders, hit 1st, outpaced before 3 out, stayed on approaching last, no chance with winner
keen in touch, headway 3 out, challenging when left in lead 2 out, drew clear last, easily
behind, slow 2nd, beaten when mistake 4 out, tailed off
EKAYBURG debuts for David Pipe in the Cheveley Park colours having won a Listed bumper in France last year. He may well prove good enough over timber at the first time of asking. Philip Hobbs runs three with Richard Johnson’s presence suggesting Dark Episode has the best chance having placed in a bumper at Newton Abbot last month. Stablemate Ebony Gale fell at the first on his hurdling bow but Golden Whisky got a lot further before falling at Taunton when debuting over timber and could be in the mix. Kings Inn has yet to threaten over hurdles while J'ai Froid has gone close in a bumper and Vards and Lochinver are point-to-point winners.
Aclassagold (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, weakened 3 out, 8th of 11, dist behind Mac Tottie (11-4) at Worcester 2m 4f mdn (5) gd in Jun.
Dark Episode (IRE) 10-11fav (11-0) In touch on inside, driven over 2f out, ridden to chase winner over 1f out, never pace to challenge, well held held when lost 2nd closing stages, 3rd of 6, 6 3/4l behind Hold The Note (11-0) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f (5) hvy in Oct.
Ebony Gale 14-1 (11-5) Fell 1st, at Chepstow 2m mdn (4) gs in Nov.
Ekayburg (FR) (10-1) won at Maisons-Laffitte 1m 4f Grp 2 sft in Oct beating Evariste (10-1) by 4l, 7 ran.
Golden Whisky (IRE) 9-1 (11-2) Jumped right on occasions, led, jumped right 6th, mistake and headed 2 out, well held when fell last, at Taunton 2m 3f mdn (4) sft in Mar.
J'Ai Froid (IRE) 16-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, went 2nd over 2f out, every chance and edged left over 1f out, switched right inside final furlong, held towards finish, 2nd of 11, 1 3/4l behind Captain Drake (11-5) at Towcester 2m mdn (5) hvy in Mar.
Kings Inn (IRE) 6-1 (9-10) Set steady pace until quickened over 4f out, headed over 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong, last of 7, 10 1/2l behind Outofthequestion (9-3) at Newbury 1m 3f hcp (5) gf in Jun.
Lochinver (FR) 2-1jfav (10-11) Jinked start, soon led, driven and headed over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 4th of 6, 22l behind Dorette (10-5) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f (5) gf in Aug.
Monkey Harris (IRE) 200-1 (11-5) Held up in rear, headway when mistake 4th, remote 8th and well held 4 out, 8th of 16, 31 1/2l behind The Big Bite (11-5) at Chepstow 2m mdn (4) gs in Nov.
Vards Evensfav (12-0) Ww; stdy hdwy 14; led last; drvn out, won at Upcott Cross 3m gf in May beating Minella Arts (12-0) by shd, 16 ran.
Zanza (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, progress on inside 6f out, pushed along over 2f out, ran green, no impression on leaders, 6th of 16, 7 3/4l behind Encore Champs (11-0) at Ffos Las 2m mdn (4) gs in Oct.
Questionation (IRE) 33-1 (10-7) Always detached in last trio, struggling 15th, continued tailed off, 5th of 6, dist behind Beat That (11-0) at Newton Abbot 3m 2f (3) gd in Aug.
