held up towards rear, headway on inside before 3 out, challenging when not fluent and landed awkwardly last, soon had 1 1/2 lengths to make up, rallied well to lead close home
held up towards rear, well beaten 3 out, never near leaders
led until 1st, chased leader, not fluent and reminder 5th, lost place 3 out, soon weakened
led 1st, not fluent 2 out, pressed last, soon left 1 1/2 lengths ahead, headed close home
prominent, slowed into 1st and 2nd, given reminder, driven along 5th, weakened before mistake 3 out
held up in touch in mid-division, closed before not fluent 3 out, soon hung left, no extra from 2 out
chased leaders, raced keenly, challenged 3 out until after 2 out, no extra flat
mid-division, headway before 3 out, soon no impression, well beaten 2 out
always towards rear, well beaten from 3 out
in rear, mistake 4th, well beaten 3 out
Raymond Tusk, a four-times winner on the Flat, found only the odds-on I Am Maximus too good at Newbury last month. He appears to be improving with experience but the latter’s stable run RUSSIAN RULER in this and he might turn out to be a nice prospect given the form of his bumper victory at Warwick last year has worked out well with both the second and third winning over hurdles this season. Moriko De Vassy had been headed when falling at Huntingdon and again carries a penalty while Great Heart'jac failed to land the odds at Hereford in November.
Moriko De Vassy (FR) 3-1 (11-5) Led, not fluent 4 out, headed narrowly when fell 2 out, at Huntingdon 2m (4) gd in Dec.
Bridge Road (IRE) 33-1 (11-8) Held up towards rear, pushed along before 3 out, went 5th flat, never dangerous, 5th of 9, 16 3/4l behind Ballycoose (11-8) at Ayr 2m mdn (4) sft in Dec.
Doors Breaker (FR) 22-1 (11-4) Close up, ridden and weakened before 2 out, detached, 6th of 7, dist behind Twoshotsoftequila (11-4) at Sedgefield 2m 1f mdn (4) sft in Dec.
Great Heart'Jac (FR) 4-7fav (10-12) Chased leaders, mistake 1st, went 2nd before mistake 2 out, ridden and no impression on winner before last, 2nd of 9, 7 1/2l behind Believe Jack (10-12) at Hereford 2m (4) gd in Nov.
Leading Man (IRE) 250-1 (11-4) In rear, ridden and behind 5th, tailed off before 3 out, soon pulled up, at Newbury 2m mdn (3) gs in Nov.
Raymond Tusk (IRE) 10-3 (11-4) Mid-division on inside, good headway chasing leaders 4 out, went 2nd before the last, ridden and brief challenge after the last, soon outpaced and no chance with winner, 2nd of 13, 6l behind I Am Maximus (11-4) at Newbury 2m mdn (4) gs in Dec.
Russian Ruler (IRE) 4-5fav (10-12) Took keen hold, tracked leaders, led 2f out, edged slightly right inside final furlong, stayed on well, won at Warwick 2m mdn (5) gs in May beating Surrey Quest (10-12) by 2l, 7 ran.
Sulbrick (IRE) 125-1 (10-12) Mid-division, ridden home turn, kept on steadily to take remote 3rd run-in, 3rd of 15, 27 1/4l behind Balco Coastal (11-5) at Ludlow 2m (4) gs in Dec.
Twistedfirestarter (IRE) 66-1 (10-12) In touch, headway 5 out, weakened 2 out, tailed off, 10th of 14, dist behind Guerlain De Vaux (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 5f (4) sft in Dec.
Willa 125-1 (10-12) Always in rear, 6th of 8, dist behind Auditoria (10-12) at Catterick 2m (4) sft in Dec.
