raced on inside, tracked leader, led 14th, headed 3 out, mistake and weakened 2 out
led until 14th, strong challenge from 2 out, stayed on, disputing lead flat, just held
towards rear, not fluent 6th or 10th, mistake 12th, jumped left and bumped next, well beaten 4 out
in rear, outpaced 12th, went 4th 4 out, no impression, well beaten 3 out
raced on outside, in touch towards rear, not fluent 2nd, closed 11th, wanting to hang left 4 out, switched right and led 3 out, hard pressed after, just prevailed
tracked leaders, took keen hold, lost place when bumped 13th, well beaten 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
NonRunner
NonRunner
MIDNIGHT GLANCE was second to a subsequent winner at Wincanton after getting off the mark at Exeter and gets a handy 6lb from the Huntingdon runner-up Taste The Fear. A progressive sort over hurdles, The Questioner could be well treated on his chasing bow while there should be more to come from Wetherby scorer Court At Slip. Ballaquane won at Fontwell in November, despite showing signs of inexperience, but that looked a modest contest.
Taste The Fear (IRE) 18-1 (12-2) Chased leaders, awkward 1st, dropped to rear 6th, reminders after 10th, not fluent 14th, headway into 3rd home turn, every chance last, ridden run-in, no impression, 2nd of 8, 1 3/4l behind Great D'Ange (11-9) at Huntingdon 3m hcp (4) gd in Dec.
Lyrical Genius (IRE) 12-1 (11-7) Led, ridden and hard pressed from 13th, headed 5 out, weakened from 4 out, 4th of 9, 32 3/4l behind Jet Plane (11-6) at Hereford 3m 1f hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Midnight Glance 9-4fav (11-2) Visibility reduced by fog, towards rear, kept on well flat and went second final strides, no chance with winner, 2nd of 8, 17l behind Certainly Red (12-0) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Court At Slip (IRE) 10-1 (11-8) Midfield, headway approaching 4 out, stayed on well from 2 out, led flat, won at Wetherby 3m hcp (5) gs in Dec beating Beat The Edge (10-4) by 1 3/4l, 13 ran.
The Questioner (IRE) 15-8fav (10-6) Prominent on inside, switched left off final bend, led 2 out, stayed on well, ridden out, won at Ascot 3m hcp (4) gs in Nov beating General Probus (11-5) by 1l, 8 ran.
Finalshot 12-1 (11-5) Prominent, led bypassing omitted 3 out, headed before omitted 2 out, soon held, 8th of 12, 7 1/4l behind Okavango Delta (12-0) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp (5) gd in Nov.
Grange Road (IRE) 40-1 (10-5) Hampered 1st, rear of mid-division, mistake 2nd, not fluent 4th, lost place before 10th, not fluent 11th, plugged on from 2 out, no impression, 5th of 8, 15 3/4l behind Fern Hill (11-3) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Ballaquane (IRE) 9-4 (11-9) Close up, not fluent 11th (usual 12th), ridden to lead 2 out (usual 3 out), ran on but idled close home, always doing enough, won at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp (5) gs in Nov beating Dindin (11-2) by 2l, 4 ran.
