GOWEL ROAD is a half-brother to a Grade 1 winner over hurdles and he wouldn’t need to improve much on his debut second at Ffos Las to go one better here receiving 7lb from The Grey Falco, who couldn’t cope with a penalty at Bangor and scoring over course and distance last month on his hurdles bow. Mickyh is a half-brother to a winning hurdler/chaser but finished tailed off at Sandown. Sergeant O'Leary has most scope of the remainder.
The Grey Falco (FR) 7-2 (11-5) Midfield, headway to track leaders at 5th, shaken up on home turn, went second 2 out but weakened and lost second at last, no extra run-in, 3rd of 8, 14l behind Minella Drama (11-5) at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 1f (4) hvy in Dec.
Coastal Drift 40-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, ridden and began to lose touch approaching 2 out, weakened quickly, last of 5, 35 1/4l behind Fifty Ball (11-12) at Sandown 2m hcp (4) hvy in Dec.
Diamon Des Flos (FR) 18-1 (11-0) Pulled hard, headway into mid-division 12f out, headway chasing leaders over 3f out, pushed along over 2f out, weakened soon after, 9th of 12, 15 1/2l behind Skytastic (11-0) at Newbury 2m (5) gd in Nov.
Gowel Road (IRE) 11-1 (10-12) Mid-division, good headway chasing leaders before 3 out, hung left soon after, led narrowly 2 out, hung left run-in, headed and no extra final 100 yards, 2nd of 11, 1 1/2l behind Bear Ghylls (11-4) at Ffos Las 2m (4) sft in Nov.
Imperial Esprit (IRE) 6-4 (11-0) Raced keenly, chased leading pair, tracked leader after 2nd until 6th, pushed along after 8th, weakened next, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out, at Plumpton 2m 5f mdn (4) hvy in Dec.
Mickyh (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Settled in last pair but well in touch, pushed along before 3 out, became detached before next and weakened quickly, last of 4, dist behind Golden Boy Grey (10-12) at Sandown 2m (3) hvy in Dec.
Sergeant O'leary (IRE) 6-1 (10-12) Held up, headway over 2f out, stayed on well, never nearer, 5th of 14, 9 1/4l behind Shinobi (10-12) at Exeter 1m 5f (5) gd in Oct.
Spotty Dog 200-1 (10-12) Held up in touch, relegated to midfield 2nd, towards rear 4th, steady headway under pressure before 3 out, kept on without troubling leaders from 2 out, 4th of 10, 21 1/4l behind Dock Road (10-12) at Exeter 2m 1f mdn (4) hvy in Dec.
Treacys Jim (IRE) 300-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, ridden and lost touch after 4 out, well beaten 2 out, hampered and unseated rider last, at Exeter 2m 1f mdn (4) hvy in Dec.
What A Baloo (IRE) 200-1 (11-0) Midfield, ridden and weakened after 3 out, 8th of 11, 36 1/4l behind Brewers Project (11-0) at Wincanton 1m 7f mdn (4) sft in Dec.
