held up in mid-division, joined leaders going best after 3 out, soon led, kept on well flat
held up towards rear, pushed along after 3 out, ridden and kept on strongly after final fence, not pace to challenge
tracked leaders out wide, led briefly after 3 out, soon headed, kept on until no extra run-in, weakened final 110yds
in rear of mid-division, never a factor
prominent, led after 5th, ridden along 4 out, headed next, soon no extra
jumped right on occasions, in rear, not fluent 6th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
chased leaders, awkward jump 3rd, not fluent 7th, weakened quickly after 4 out
led, headed after 5th, shaken up after 4 out, soon ridden, no extra from 3 out
held up in rear of mid-division, shaken up 4 out, ridden along and switched right after 3 out, stayed on strongly to go second final 110yds, not reach winner
prominent on inner, going okay when shaken up 3 out, ran on well to briefly take second on run-in, kept on but lost second final 110yds
jumped right throughout, outpaced and ridden along early, struggling after 7th, soon tailed off, never going well
BEFORE MIDNIGHT takes a drop in grade this afternoon and has previously scored off this mark at Ascot. Saint Segal has been winning novice races and the idea of a hat-trick appears to be far from fanciful. Mackenberg is five from five over fences and he won well on his most recent start here. Malystic reportedly scoped dirty at Cheltenham but last month's Wetherby success proved to be much more like it. West Cork was a fair hurdler though success over fences has eluded Dan Skelton’s inmate so far.
Malystic 13-2 (11-10) Midfield, ridden and headway 4 out, led 3 out, kept on well run-in, won at Wetherby 1m 7f hcp (2) sft in Dec beating Cheddleton (12-0) by 2 1/4l, 9 ran.
Mackenberg (GER) 16-5 (12-0) Held up in rear, not fluent 4th, jumped left 8th, not fluent next, headway 11th, led 2 out, clear flat, eased close home, won at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Nov beating The King Of May (11-0) by 1 1/2l, 5 ran.
Before Midnight 16-1 (10-13) Chased leader, went on approaching 2 out, ridden and headed before last, no extra flat, 3rd of 7, 8 3/4l behind Boothill (10-7) at Ascot 2m 1f hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Xcitations 7-1 (11-6) Tracked leader, led 9th, made rest, came clear before the last, stayed on well, won at Sandown 2m hcp (2) sft in Jan beating Corrigeen Rock (11-1) by 9l, 7 ran.
Rouge Vif (FR) 22-1 (11-12) Chased leader, raced keenly, pressed leader after 3 out, driven along after last (usual 2 out), soon weakened, last of 9, 15 3/4l behind Punctuation (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp (3) gd in Dec.
West Cork 7-2jfav (11-10) Held up in mid-division on inside, lost place slightly at 7th, rallied chasing leaders before 11th, weakened after 4 out, tailed off and pulled up 3 out, at Kempton 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Prince Escalus (IRE) 9-1 (12-0) Chased leaders, shaken up 4 out, no impression from 2 out, kept on, 4th of 9, 4 1/2l behind Desque De L'Isle (10-4) at Ludlow 2m hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Soldier Of Destiny (IRE) 11-10 (11-0) Led until after 1st, chased leader until 3rd, close 3rd, pushed along after 3 out, went 2nd again on inside turning in, stayed on same pace, no chance with winner, 2nd of 5, 9 1/2l behind Mexico (11-0) at Southwell 2m 4f (4) gd in Dec.
Saint Segal (FR) 11-10fav (11-2) Close 3rd, bad mistake 7th, went 2nd before 2 out (normal 3 out), led next, came clear turning in, stayed on well, won at Hereford 2m (3) sft in Jan beating Christopher Wood (11-0) by 2 1/2l, 5 ran.
Gold Des Bois (FR) 12-1 (10-11) Took keen hold, held up in rear, brief headway before 4 out, soon ridden and tailed off before 3 out, 6th of 7, dist behind Minella Drama (12-0) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Joke Dancer 14-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, pushed along in rear after 5 out, plugged on for 3rd, never threatened, 3rd of 6, 16l behind No Risk Des Flos (11-3) at Wetherby 1m 7f hcp (3) hvy in Nov.
