held up mid-division, headway 5 out to chase leaders, went 2nd before 3 out, ridden before 2 out, no extra from last
held up in rear, headway before 3 out, ridden before last, kept on same pace
held up in touch, fell 3 out
held up mid-division, headway before 3 out, led before 2 out, soon clear, driven out towards finish
tracked leaders, weakened before 3 out
held up mid-division, weakened from 3 out
led from 2nd, clear from 3 out, ridden and headed before 2 out, weakened run-in
towards rear, some headway after 3 out, never dangerous
held up towards rear, pushed along before 5 out, ridden and headway on inner before 3 out, kept on to take 3rd run-in
held up mid-division, weakened before 3 out, tailed off
led to 2nd, tracked leader, outpaced after 3 out, chased winner from last, kept on well, held towards finish
Abidjan bids for a four-timer tackling handicap company for the first time. Harry Cobden's claim is a plus and the Nicholls' novice seems sure to make a bold bid. Red Devil Boys is not an easy ride but kept finding when put back over hurdles here last month, though is now 6lb higher and Boruma wasn't far behind in third. Kalifourchon blotted his copy book when unseating his rider at Sandown but Alzammaar is interesting given he probably saw too much daylight on his reappearance at Cheltenham. KASHMIR PEAK (NAP) has won both previous starts on the hurdles course here and seems to enjoy the long home straight. He was staying on late over 2m at Ayr last time so is worth another try over a longer trip and is well enough treated to be a factor.
Abidjan (FR) 2-13fav (11-12) Tracked leader, led 5th, clear from 3 out, not fluent last, eased towards finish, won at Exeter 2m 1f (4) gf in Oct beating Linguine (10-12) by 8l, 4 ran.
Balmusette 11-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, pushed along before 4 out, weakened from next, last of 8, dist behind Baby King (11-2) at Haydock 2m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Kashmir Peak (IRE) 12-1 (10-10) Mid-division, headway before 3 out, kept on same pace, 4th of 11, 8 1/2l behind Aristo Du Plessis (10-3) at Ayr 2m hcp (2) gs in Oct.
Red Devil Boys (IRE) 5-2fav (11-11) Tracked leaders on outside, mistake 1st, led 3 out, headed next, soon hung right and head rather high, cajoled again to challenge from last, led final 100 yards, stayed on, won at Doncaster 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Nov beating Crookstown (11-4) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Medicine Hat 16-1 (11-0) Prominent, ridden and weakened after 3 out, pulled up before next, at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Seaviper (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened after 2 out, 10th of 16, 28 3/4l behind Towering (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (3) gs in Oct.
Kalifourchon (FR) 5-1 (11-7) Took keen hold tracking leaders on inside, ridden when stumbled went right and unseated rider 2 out, at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Hidden Justice (IRE) 15-2 (11-12) In touch, ridden and headway between 4 out and 3 out, weakened 2 out, 8th of 11, dist behind Island Heights (11-8) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Alzammaar (USA) 16-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, driven after 2 out, ridden and one pace before last, no impression when edged left flat, 7th of 24, 9 3/4l behind Unowhatimeanharry (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Jacks Last Hope 11-4fav (10-12) Held up in touch on inside, chased leaders 3 out, outpaced before next, never on terms, weakening when lost modest 4th after last, 5th of 14, 30l behind Chieftain's Choice (11-5) at Catterick 2m 3f (4) gs in Dec.
Boruma (IRE) 8-1 (10-7) Led, headed 3 out, one pace next, rallied flat, ran on, 3rd of 9, 2 1/2l behind Red Devil Boys (11-11) at Doncaster 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Consortium (IRE) 8-1 (10-12) Held up last, 4th before 3 out, outpaced and driven after 3 out, plugged on into modest 3rd before the last, 3rd of 5, 6l behind Darebin (10-12) at Sandown 2m (4) sft in Nov.
