held up in rear, steady headway approaching 11th, upsides and challenging for lead when fell heavily 4 out
chased winner, bumped 3rd, mistake and lost 2nd briefly 12th, dropped to 3rd when left in 2nd place 4 out, ridden and kept on run-in, not pace to challenge
held up tracking leaders on outside, lost place 7th, behind and never involved after, tailed off
jumped well, led, jumped slowly 3rd, headed next, led again 6th, joined when left with advantage 4 out, stayed on strongly
took keen hold, tracked leaders on inside, left 3rd 4 out, soon no impression on leading duo
chased leaders, led 4th until 6th, chased leaders, weakened before 8th, tailed off
held up in last air, headway tracking leaders approaching 8th, weakened 5 out, blundered 3 out
Wait For Me didn't jump particularly well at Worcester but his class saw him wear down Mile House in the closing stages. This is a stiffer track, however, and the longer trip will stretch his stamina. Knight Of Noir has already run five times over fences but he was only beaten half-a-length over this trip last month at Worcester. Rock On Oscar split a couple of decent chasers over 2m4f at Warwick in May of last year but hasn't raced since, though fitness is rarely an issue for one from his yard. Alex Hales did well last season with DUEL AT DAWN and he looks a real chasing type. A race like this should be within his capabilities if fully wound-up but Morello Royale continues to disappoint.
Wait For Me (FR) 8-11fav (11-4) In rear, jumped right and slow early stages, headway when not fluent 7th, pushed along and 6 lengths 4th 4 out, mistake 3 out, closed to take 3rd when mistake last, still 4 lengths to make up flat, finished strongly to lead close home, won at Worcester 2m 4f (4) gd in Sep beating Mile House (11-4) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Duel At Dawn (IRE) 5-1 (11-8) Led, not fluent 7th, headed 5 out, rallied 2 out, stayed on strongly to lead again towards finish, ridden out, won at Bangor 2m 7f hcp (3) gs in Mar beating Sam Red (11-12) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
General Bux 20-1 (11-0) Prominent, not fluent 7th, soon weakened, tailed off before 4 out, pulled up before 2 out, at Chepstow 2m 3f mdn (3) gs in Dec.
Knight Of Noir (IRE) 7-1 (10-12) Prominent on outside, switched inside and led after 8th, not fluent when hard pressed 3 out, ridden after next, rallied when headed narrowly flat, just held, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Ballymalin (10-12) at Worcester 2m 7f (4) gs in Sep.
Rock On Oscar (IRE) 3-1 (10-12) Tracked leader, took keen hold, led 11th, not fluent 13th, headed before 3 out, stayed on same pace before next, 2nd of 5, 13l behind Virgilio (10-12) at Warwick 2m 4f (4) gs in May.
The Lion Dancer (IRE) 5-1 (12-2) Made all, 2l adv 1/2way, 3l adv bef 2out, going best bef last with 3l adv, kow run-in, won at Loughrea 3m mdn gd in Apr beating Fresh New Dawn (12-2) by 5l, 7 ran.
Morello Royale (IRE) 9-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, headway halfway, weakened after 5 out, last of 8, dist behind Rene's Girl (10-12) at Worcester 2m 4f (4) gd in Oct.
