led, niggled along and headed before 10th, weakened after 14th, pulled up before 3 out
prominent, not fluent 4th and 10th, weakening when tired jump 2 out, soon pulled up
chased leader, led before 10th, headed 4 out, ridden after 3 out, rallied 2 out, sustained challenge on long run-in, led near finish, all out (last fence in home straight and old water jump in back straight omitted)
held up, improved 4th, lost place 10th, progress when mistake 13th, led 4 out, hard ridden and headed near finish
held up, soon behind, headway 9th, weakened and pulled up before 4 out
always behind, mistake 14th, soon lost touch, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
held up and behind, pushed along after 14th, headway when left 3rd after 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on flat, not reach leading pair
behind from 9th, tailed off when pulled up in back straight
CAVOK returned from 10 months off to deliver a gutsy success at Uttoxeter last month and is taken to oblige despite being raised a harsh-looking 7lb for a victory of just three-quarters of a length. This is a tougher assignment but he has only had five career starts at the age of eight and hopefully will have further potential to realise. Top And Drop seems to be coming to the boil and should be spot-on now and rates a leading player as he's capable on heavy ground and has won over a furlong shy of this trip. Air Navigator is another who should be cherry-ripe now and is expected to be competitive off a fair mark. Western Climate has place claims.
Bob Ford (IRE) 4-1 (12-3) Chased leader until 7th, chased leaders, reminder after 11th, pushed along before 13th, outpaced 3 out, 4th of 8, 7 1/4l behind High Counsel (10-0) at Warwick 3m hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Air Navigator 11-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, steady headway 4 out, ridden to chase leaders after next, kept on same pace, no impression with front pair from last, 3rd of 11, 3l behind Worthy Farm (11-12) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Holdbacktheriver (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) Never better than mid-division, behind from 12th, weakened after 5 out, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, at Exeter 3m 7f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Top And Drop 6-1 (11-12) Chased leaders on outside, lost place and behind 8th, headway on outside chasing leaders before 4 out, 3rd after 4 out, left 2nd 2 out, stayed on same pace, no chance with winner, weakened into 3rd run-in, dropped to 4th close home, 4th of 8, 8l behind Everlanes (10-11) at Taunton 2m 6f hcp (4) hvy in Jan.
Cavok (IRE) 12-1 (12-7) Held up in touch, ridden to lead 2 out, held on well under pressure on long run-in (final fence omitted), won at Uttoxeter 3m hcp (4) hvy in Dec beating Storm Wizard (12-5) by 3/4l, 5 ran.
Shaughnessy 7-2 (11-4) Hampered 1st, headway chasing leaders 3rd, plugged on in 3rd at the last, weakened into 4th final 50 yards, 4th of 10, 9 1/4l behind Manofthemountain (11-12) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Western Climate (IRE) 9-2 (10-6) Never nearer than mid-division, pushed along in 6th and struggling after 5 out, rallied into 4th place next, in 3rd place towards finish, 3rd of 10, 16 1/2l behind Captain Drake (11-9) at Exeter 3m hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Bill And Barn (IRE) 4-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, losing place when fell 3 out (normal 4 out), at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp (4) hvy in Jan.
