chased leaders, pushed along and weakened before 3 out
towards rear, headway into 3rd before 3 out, shaken up and led after 2 out, not fluent last, stayed on gamely when challenged run-in, did enough
soon led, awkward 3rd, not fluent 5th or 3 out, ridden and headed after 2 out, gradually fading when fell last
prominent, hit 2nd, pushed along and beaten 3 out
mid-division, pushed along home turn, no response
towards rear, not much room on bend after 4 out and shuffled back, headway into 4th before 3 out, ridden and chased leader on run to last, stayed on, not pace to challenge
in rear, in touch, some headway 3 out, ridden and no impression 2 out, beaten when hampered by faller last
handy, pushed along 3 out, kept on, ridden and no extra before last
tracked leaders, pushed along and outpaced home turn, ridden and stayed on from 2 out, pressed leader last, every chance run-in, held closing stages
Comfort Zone came up against a couple of smart recruits when third in a Grade 3 at Fairyhouse having beaten a subsequent winner on debut at Navan. He’ll provide a stiff test for the home team led by Scriptwriter, who won in this grade at Cheltenham last month. PERSEUS WAY (NAP) was second in that Cheltenham contest but did well to finish as close as he did given his lack of experience. An improver on the Flat in the summer, Gary Moore’s novice bolted up in minor company at Leicester last time and there should be plenty more to come. Spartan Army easily landed the odds at Wetherby but Medyaf is held on the form book and Dixon Cove will find this tougher against the geldings. Fils De Roi looks the pick of the remainder.
Medyaf 13-2 (11-5) Chased leader, led after 4 out, ridden and headed before the last, weakened run-in, 4th of 8, 10l behind Scriptwriter (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m (1) gd in Nov.
Comfort Zone (IRE) 10-3 (10-10) Towards rear, progress to 6th before 5th, headway to 4th before last, kept on in 3rd closing stages, never nearer, 3rd of 10, 6 1/4l behind Lossiemouth (10-3) at Fairyhouse 2m (1) sft in Dec.
Fils De Roi (FR) 2-1fav (11-7) Chased leader, not fluent 3 out, led before 2 out, clear last, comfortably, won at Huntingdon 2m (4) gd in Oct beating Admiralty House (11-7) by 4 1/4l, 5 ran.
Havaila (IRE) 18-1 (11-2) Led until after 2nd, chased leader until after 4th, chased leading pair, went 2nd again before 2 out, hit 2 out, ridden between last two, dropped to 3rd at the last, went 2nd again final 125 yards, no chance with winner, 2nd of 10, 1 3/4l behind Penna Rossa (11-2) at Sandown 2m (2) sft in Dec.
Jupiter Allen (FR) 5-2 (11-0) Jumped left at times, made all, stayed on well run in, always doing enough, won at Kempton 2m (4) gs in Nov beating Spirit D'aunou (11-0) by 3/4l, 5 ran.
Perseus Way (IRE) 3-10fav (11-2) Raced keenly tracking leaders out wide, hit 2nd, good headway out wide before 4 out, led before 2 out, soon clear, hit last, won at Leicester 2m mdn (4) gs in Nov beating Mr Rumbalicious (11-2) by 24l, 5 ran.
Spartan Army (IRE) 5-6fav (11-2) Tracked leaders, smooth headway 3 out, shaken up and led approaching last, drew clear run-in, readily, won at Wetherby 2m mdn (4) hvy in Nov beating Wholeofthemoon (11-2) by 6l, 5 ran.
The Churchill Lad (IRE) 4-6fav (11-7) Raced keenly, made all, not fluent 3 out, mistake 2 out, went clear approaching last, comfortably, won at Catterick 2m (4) sft in Nov beating Eclairant Le Monde (10-7) by 7l, 8 ran.
Dixon Cove (GER) Evensfav (11-0) Jumped right at times, chased leader, not fluent 6th, challenged 2 out, edged left after last, soon led narrowly and edged right, stayed on, driven out, won at Aintree 2m 1f lst fll (1) gs in Dec beating Calico (11-0) by 1 1/4l, 9 ran.
More Felons (IRE) 4-1 (11-0) Held up in mid-division, good headway chasing leaders approaching 4 out, 2nd going well before the last, stumbled on landing last, soon led, hung right run-in, driven out, won at Cheltenham 2m (1) gd in Nov beating Perseus Way (11-0) by 2 1/4l, 8 ran.
