towards rear, pushed along after 4th, slow jump 7th and detached in rear, tailed off before 3 out
chased leaders, pushed along home turn, well behind 3 out, pulled up before last
mid-division, pushed along home turn, no response, pulled up before last
prominent, not fluent 1st, led narrowly 3rd, pushed along 3 out, headed before 2 out, ridden before last, kept on, always held
mid-division, went 3rd home turn, pushed along after 3 out, ridden between last two flights, stayed on same pace
led, headed 3rd and remained close up, not fluent 6th and shaken up, pushed along after 4 out, lost position home turn, beaten 2 out
in rear, in touch, ridden in 5th 3 out, no progress
chased leaders, went handy at 2nd, pushed along and led before 2 out, hung left and ridden before last, stayed on, always doing enough
Classic Concorde has won four times since August but J'Ai Froid only won by a neck at Leicester and faces stronger opposition today. Dolphin Square looked to be coming to hand at Sandown but Crossing The Bar is in danger of becoming disappointing. Mario De Pail and BELLS OF PETERBORO have been chasing but the latter was 6lb higher when second in this last year and could go one better as Tanganyika has gone up 4lb for winning at Bangor while Uncle Bert tries a new trip.
Dolphin Square (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Disputed lead, headed approaching 2 out, pushed along and stayed on same pace, 4th of 8, 8 3/4l behind Operation Manna (10-6) at Sandown 2m 7f hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
Mario De Pail (FR) 12-1 (11-8) Tracked leader after 1st, ridden to lead 3 out, awkward next and headed, kept on same pace, 4th of 11, 10 3/4l behind Houston Texas (11-0) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Uncle Bert 5-1 (10-10) In rear, in touch, pushed along 3 out, kept on, never threatened, 5th of 10, 9 1/4l behind Get A Tonic (11-1) at Newbury 2m 5f hcp (2) gs in Dec.
J'Ai Froid (IRE) 3-1 (11-12) Made all, shaken up after 3 out, ridden next, faced challenge after last, kept on well flat, won at Leicester 2m hcp (4) hvy in Nov beating Harel Du Marais (11-4) by nk, 4 ran.
Tanganyika (FR) 5-2fav (11-5) Disputed lead, headed 3rd, briefly led 5th, in touch with leaders 3 out, soon ridden, disputed lead 2 out, narrow lead approaching last where not fluent, kept on run-in, always holding on, won at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 7f hcp (3) hvy in Dec beating Astronomic View (11-3) by 3/4l, 6 ran.
Bells Of Peterboro (IRE) 85-40jfav (11-7) Tracked leader, led 9th, headed 2 out, weakened before last, 4th of 5, 23 1/4l behind Whydah Gally (11-3) at Lingfield 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Crossing The Bar (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) In rear, stumbled before 1st, not fluent 6th, closed after next, ridden after 3 out, no impression in 4th last, 4th of 9, 19 3/4l behind Ballymagroarty Boy (12-0) at Ffos Las 3m hcp (4) hvy in Dec.
Classic Concorde (IRE) 4-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, shaken up and led before 2 out, soon ridden and stayed on well, won at Ffos Las 3m hcp (3) sft in Nov beating Balkardy (10-13) by 3 3/4l, 6 ran.
