tracked leaders, led 2f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on
slowly away, in rear, headway over 3f out, went 3rd over 2f out, led inside final furlong, kept on well
held up behind, pushed along and headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace
held up towards rear, ridden and weakened over 3f out
tracked leader until over 2f out, soon weakened
prominent, ridden 3f out, weakened over 2f out
led to 2f out, faded and lost 2nd place inside final furlong
held up towards rear, pushed along over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
held up towards rear, pushed along over 5f out, weakened over 3f out
The jumper Mad Moose created a shock when landing this a year ago and Peter Niven will be hoping Clever Cookie can follow suit. A dual bumper winner, he completed a hat-trick over hurdles earlier this year before being well beaten in the Scottish Champion Hurdle. After a promising debut, Shanti was made a long odds-on chance at Wolverhampton in September but failed to cope with Lineman. He'll need to do better here against a couple of potentially nice types in Munatas and SAARREM. The former ran well when unfancied behind 100/1 winner Champagne Rules at Pontefract and will have come on for the run but it's John Gosden's charge who gets the nod after an eye-catching run at Lingfield where he wasn't punished after missing the break.
Air Pilot 16-1 (9-2) 2nd of 8, shd behind Anducas (9-2) at Chantilly(FR) 1m 3yo stk sft in Jun '12.
Clever Cookie 7-1 (10-4) Held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, weakened before 2 out, 8th of 11, 25l behind Cockney Sparrow (9-11) at Ayr 2m Ltd hcp hdl (1) gs.
Ronald Gee (IRE) 50-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, ridden over 1f out, never dangerous, 9th of 12, 19l behind Mont Royale (11-0) at Kelso 2m NH flat (5) gd in Oct.
Foiled 33-1 (9-5) Slowly into stride, always behind, lost touch over 3f out, soon eased tailed off, last of 12, well behind Talented Kid (9-11) at Windsor 1m 3yo & 4yo mdn (5) gf in Aug.
Shanti 1-3fav (9-5) In touch in 4th, went 2nd over 1f out, ridden and not quicken inside final furlong, 2nd of 5, 1 1/4l behind Lineman (9-5) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f mdn stks (5) pol in Sep.
Hazel Brook 16-1 (11-3) Chased leaders in 4th, ridden over 3f out, weakened 2f out, 6th of 12, 22l behind Champagne At Tara (11-3) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f NH flat (6) gd in Oct.
Munatas 28-1 (9-5) Slowly into stride, took keen hold and held up towards rear, headway on inside over 2f out, disputing 2nd 1f out, 3rd and one pace inside final furlong, 3rd of 11, 2 1/4l behind Champagne Rules (9-5) at Pontefract 1m 2f 3yo mdn (4) sft.
Saarrem (USA) 11-4 (9-5) Slowly away raced green behind, headway to be in touch in rear 8f out, pushed along and headway approaching final furlong, stayed on, better for race, 3rd of 8, 1 3/4l behind Morning Watch (9-5) at Lingfield 1m 4f 3yo mdn stks (5) pol.
Tactical Strike 8-1 (9-5) Awkwardly away and slow into stride, headway to track leaders 9f out, ridden when led over 2f out, soon headed, weakened final furlong, 4th of 8, 10l behind Morning Watch (9-5) at Lingfield 1m 4f 3yo mdn stks (5) pol.
Olymnia (8-13) 11th of 13, 18l behind Akalmia (8-13) at Compiegne(FR) 1m 4f 3yo mdn sft in Mar.