led chasing group, close up 4 out, almost upsides travelling strongly 3 out, eased into lead 2 out where mistake, ridden clear before last, pushed out flat, comfortably
held up, ridden before 3 out, well beaten before 2 out, no extra
held up in rear, awkward 3rd, in touch 4 out, ridden 3 out, lost touch with leading pair 2 out, one pace
led, clear 1st, reduced advantage 4 out, ridden before 3 out, headed 2 out, no extra
midfield, ridden and weakened quickly after 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
Monmiral won easily at Exeter but the form may not amount to much with the third well beaten since. He also carries a penalty, though Paul Nicholls has won this twice in the last four years. After winning at Sligo, GLORIOUS ZOFF was surprisingly turned over at Sedgefield but may have gone for home too soon that day and he still holds Gold Desert on the form book. Cloud Thunder, rated 76 on the Flat, must be well regarded to make his hurdling debut in this grade and he probably has more scope than French import Mistersister.
Monmiral (FR) 11-8fav (11-4) Tracked leader, led travelling strongly approaching 3 out, jumped left 2 out and ridden, clear last, pushed out, won at Exeter 2m 1f (4) sft in Nov beating Honneur D'ajonc (10-12) by 5 1/2l, 9 ran.
Cloud Thunder 15-8 (8-13) Led, ridden and headed 2f out, chased winner, stayed on towards finish, 2nd of 6, 1 1/4l behind Dublin Pharaoh (9-7) at Newcastle 1m 4f hcp (4) pol in Nov.
Glorious Zoff (IRE) 4-11fav (11-5) In touch, smooth headway to lead narrowly 3 out, clear advantage 2 out, ridden before last, collared close home, 2nd of 7, 1 1/4l behind Le Magnifique (10-12) at Sedgefield 2m 1f (4) gs in Nov.
Gold Desert 9-2 (11-4) Tracked leader, ridden after 3 out, responded to press for lead 2 out, 1 length down last, switched right and quickened to lead close home, won at Catterick 2m (4) gd in Nov beating Grouseman (10-12) by 1 1/4l, 11 ran.
Mistersister (FR) (10-10) won at Le Lion D'angers 2m 1f gs in Aug beating Son Of Rajsa (11-0) by 1l, 10 ran.
