chased leader, led 4 out, ridden and under pressure approaching last, stayed on well
prominent, weakened last
held up, weakened approaching 3 out
towards rear, ridden 3 out, mistake next, kept on to take 3rd flat
held up mid-division, chased leaders 3 out, soon weakened
held up in mid-division, weakened 3 out
chased leaders, chased winner from 3 out, one pace from last
tracked leaders and keen, every chance going to last, no impression on winner
held up in mid-division, headway going to 3 out, not fluent last, one pace
held up, pushed along 5th, tailed off approaching 4 out, pulled up before 3 out
led and jumped right 4 out, weakened approaching next
BOSTONS ANGEL is taken to land the finale at the main expense of Lord Ragnar and Double Expresso. The selection brings some solid Irish form to the table here, including most recently when he chased home Mr Warbucks. The ground will not be a problem for him and he is taken to get his head in front. Lord Ragnar can chase him home as Nicky Henderson has been having plenty of winners and his rise for his win at Cheltenham last time does seem perfectly fair. There should be more to come from him and he is definite shortlist material. Double Expresso won a bumper on his debut and he followed that up to win another bumper under a penalty last time out. He shapes as though he will make into a decent hurdler and this longer trip should play to his strengths. Killobee showed up well on his debut in a bumper at Taunton back in November when he was the subject of strong market support. He could be of interest if the money comes for him again as he clearly has plenty of ability. McMurrough and Mr Syntax appeal most of the others, but the vote goes to Bostons Angel.
Bostons Angel (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Chased leader in 2nd, slight mistake and reminders 2nd, slight mistake 4 out, soon ridden, challenged after 3 out, led entering straight, strongly pressed 2 out, kept on well under pressure, won at Cork 2m 2f hdl sft beating Mr Warbucks (11-9) by 2l, 3 ran.
McMurrough (IRE) 22-1 (10-2) Held up in touch, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, weakened from next, 7th of 16, 30l behind Diamond Harry (11-12) at Haydock 3m 1f listed hcp hdl (1) sft in Nov.
Backfromthebrink (IRE) 3-1 (11-2) Prominent, ridden 5f out, weakened over 2f out, 4th of 10, 31l behind Full Of Joy (10-11) at Chepstow 2m NH flat (6) hvy in Dec.
Barron Watlass (IRE) 100-1 (10-13) Always behind, 11th of 14, 39l behind Gifted Leader (11-4) at Southwell 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs.
Double Expresso 5-1 (11-7) Held up in touch, led well over 1f out, driven out, won at Southwell 2m NH flat (5) gd in Dec beating Owen Glendower (11-0) by nk, 14 ran.
Great Vintage (IRE) 250-1 (10-12) Held up, ridden 3 out, soon weakened, 10th of 15, well behind Tilt (10-12) at Catterick 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Dec.
Hideaway 20-1 (11-0) Mid-division, headway 7th, soon chasing leaders, weakened 3 out, 6th of 18, 48l behind Sandynow (11-0) at Warwick 2m 5f mdn hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Lord Ragnar (IRE) 11-1 (11-1) Always prominent, led 7th, stayed on well flat, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-110 (3) gs in Nov beating Attorney General (11-6) by 3 1/2l, 24 ran.
Mr Syntax (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) In touch, headway to challenge 3 out, ridden next, kept on same pace, not pace of winner flat, 2nd of 16, 5l behind Quantitativeeasing (11-0) at Newcastle 2m 4-6yo mdn hdl (5) gs in Nov.
Ocheekobee (IRE) 66-1 (10-11) Held up towards rear, tailed off from 8th, 9th of 15, well behind Predictive (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Quilver Tatou (FR) 100-1 (11-0) Held up well in rear, behind from 5th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Binocular (11-0) at Aintree 2m 4yo nov hdl G1 (1) gs in Apr '08, 10 ran.
Ravethebrave (IRE) 7-2 (10-12) Mid-division, headway 4th, went 2nd when mistake 2 out, every chance when mistake last, edged left flat, no extra, 4th of 9, 3 1/2l behind The Jigsaw Man (11-5) at Hereford 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Nov.
Thedrystonewaller 80-1 (11-3) Led 6f, tracked leader, lost place over 3f out, soon weakened, 8th of 9, well behind Paint The Clouds (10-11) at Sedgefield 2m 1f mdn NH flat (6) gf in Jun.
You're So Vain 11-4fav (11-2) With leader, led 5f out, driven over 1f out, kept on well to draw clear final 110 yards, won at Folkestone 2m 1f NH flat (6) gs in Nov beating Born Again (10-11) by 1 1/4l, 8 ran.
Killobee (IRE) 11-4 (11-2) Held up, headway to track leaders over 4f out, ridden over 3f out, stayed on same pace final furlong, 3rd of 11, 1 3/4l behind Opening Meet (11-2) at Taunton 2m 1f mdn nhf (5) sft in Nov.
