made all all, unchallenged, kept on well run-in
held up in touch, went 2nd from 3 out, ridden after last, no impression on winner
held up in touch, headway before 2 out, one pace
tracked winner until weakened from 3 out
always towards rear, never dangerous
tracked leaders and keen, lost place after 4 out, tailed off
in rear, headway before 3 out, ridden before 2 out, no impression
CLIFFS OF DOVER was ordinary on the Flat but has found his niche over timber, winning five of his six starts to date. He easily beat Tasty Ginger at Kempton in October and has nothing to fear from that one - there is no reason why he can’t win again. Only a short-head separated Lord Justice from stablemate Zig Zag at Ballinrobe in October but the gap had widened when they met again at Down Royal last month. Timoteo looks a better long-term prospect than both, however, having progressed with each run in France in the early part of this year, though he makes his debut for Alan King after a break.
Cliffs Of Dover 7-4 (11-6) Led to before 1st, tracked leader, close up 5th, led after 4 out, driven clear after 2 out, ran on well, comfortably, won at Wetherby 2m lst (1) gd in Oct beating Nietzsche (10-12) by 9l, 7 ran.
Lord Justice (IRE) 7-2 (11-8) Tracked leaders, slight mistake 4th, 5th halfway, pushed along in 4th 2 out and no impression when mistake last, ridden and kept on one pace run-in, 3rd of 12, 17l behind Mega Fortune (10-12) at Down Royal 2m gd in Nov.
Zig Zag (IRE) 7-1 (11-7) Settled behind leaders, 6th halfway, closer in 4th 3 out, ridden into 2nd before last, no impression on winner run-in, kept on same pace, 2nd of 12, 4l behind Landofhopeandglory (11-7) at Punchestown 2m sft in Nov.
Tasty Ginger (IRE) 5-2 (10-12) Led until after 2nd, remained prominent, not fluent 4 out, ridden to challenge after 3 out, led after next, stayed on well, won at Bangor 2m 1f mdn (4) gs in Nov beating Walsingham Grange (10-12) by 5l, 5 ran.
Bishop Of Bling (IRE) 10-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders in 3rd, weakened from 2 out, 7th of 14, 19 1/2l behind Evening Hush (10-5) at Exeter 2m 1f (4) sft in Nov.
Shrubland 50-1 (11-0) Held up in mid-division, headway tracking leading pair 3rd, 2nd after 3 out until approaching next, ridden in 3rd and unable to quicken between last 2, mistake and weakened last, 4th of 10, 13 1/4l behind Dino Velvet (11-0) at Sandown 2m (2) gs in Dec.
Timoteo (FR) (10-8) 2nd of 9, nk behind Dancing Roque (11-0) at Lyon-Parilly 2m 1f gs in Jun.
