raced wide chasing leaders, effort on outside approaching 3 out, weakened soon after 3 out
held up in last pair, blundered and unseated rider 5th
tracked leader until 2nd, handy 3rd, pushed along before 3 out, 2nd again before 2 out, led before the last, hit last and joined, stayed on to assert run-in
led until 3 out, lost 2nd before next, soon hung left and weakened
pulled hard in rear, travelling well enough before 3 out, soon ridden, went modest 3rd between last 2
tracked leader 2nd, led 3 out, joined next, ridden and headed before the last, rallied as winner hit last, held run-in
NonRunner
The jumping of West To The Bridge over fences has twice cost him dear lately and it remains to be seen if he’ll improve for a switch back to hurdles. Saint Leo has also been chasing but Linger has been in fine form on the Flat and over hurdles in Ireland this year, though is making his debut for a new yard. Storm Rising is gradually slipping to a mark from which he should be capable of winning again but MR SCRUMPY (NAP) was impressive at Wetherby when making a winning reappearance and Jedd O’Keeffe’s novice looks more than capable of defying a 6lb rise.
Ball D'Arc (FR) 33-1 (11-10) Waited with, soon rear of mid-division, not fluent 4 out, no impression approaching straight, one pace, 12th of 13, 28 1/2l behind Static Jack (10-0) at Killarney 2m 7f hcp gd in Jul.
Linger (IRE) 15-8fav (12-0) Prominent, a little keen, slight mistake 5th, 4th from next, effort straight, led approaching last, quickly asserted and stayed on well, won at Cork 2m 3f hcp Yielding in Oct beating Automatic (10-10) by 4 1/2l, 10 ran.
Storm Rising (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Jumped big and awkward 1st, chased leaders and pushed along at times, pushed along before 3 out, outpaced on long run before next, kept on run-in, 4th of 7, 6 3/4l behind Flashing Glance (11-11) at Kempton 2m hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Saint Leo (FR) 11-4 (11-7) Tracked leaders, not fluent 5 out, driven and one pace after next, never on terms, weakened 2 out, 4th of 6, 20 1/4l behind Ardera Cross (11-2) at Ayr 2m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
West To The Bridge (IRE) 7-2fav (10-10) Held up, blundered badly and rider lost irons 1st, pulled up before next, at Newbury 2m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Mr Scrumpy 11-2 (10-12) Held up in touch, chased leaders before 3 out, led 3 out, pressed before last, kept on strongly run-in, won at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Nov beating Sakhee's City (11-10) by 3 3/4l, 15 ran.
Eaton Hill (IRE) 9-1 (11-2) Took keen hold, held up towards rear, headway when mistake 8th, no impression on last bend, 7th of 8, 16 1/4l behind Boreham Bill (11-5) at Stratford 2m 6f hcp (3) gs in Oct.
