prominent, pushed along and outpaced from 3 out, no impression after, kept on
held up in touch, raced keenly, weakened before 3 out, fell 2 out
held up towards rear, headway on outside after 6th, pressing leaders final bend, ridden and not fluent 3 out, not fluent and weakened next
mid-division, struggling after 7th, well beaten before 3 out
made all, hanging left from 3 out, clear last, easily
held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, disputing 2nd 2 out, no impression on winner last, kept on
prominent, mistake 4th, pushed along after 7th, lost place before 3 out
held up towards rear, hit 6th, pushed along before 3 out, kept on from 2 out, never dangerous
held up, pushed along before 3 out, edged left before 2 out, no impression
mid-division, not fluent 2nd, headway before 3 out, 4th when mistake 2 out, kept on same pace
held up in rear, headway before 3 out, chased winner 2 out, no impression last, kept on
always in rear, well behind after 7th, tailed off
held up in rear, headway after 7th, went 4th before last, kept on
held up in touch, ridden and pressing winner briefly before 3 out, weakened before 2 out
held up in rear on outside, well beaten before 3 out, jumped left and not fluent 3 out
NonRunner
Quest For Life isn’t badly treated but has been a bit hit-and-miss this season and is the senior runner in this. KAVANAGHS CROSS is still improving and is reunited with Niall Houlihan, who rode him to victory at Kelso. He has to go on the shortlist and Headscarf Lil won with her head in her chest at Newcastle, though has been raised 7lb. Hurricane Ali won three times last spring but hasn’t raced since September and Grangeclare Glory may be a few pounds too high at present. Course and distance winner Creative Control couldn’t cope with a 5lb rise at Sedgefield with Gala De Corton making more appeal up 6lb for winning by 16 lengths here on his handicap debut. The lightly-raced Jay Jay Reilly, Ted's Friend and Inishbiggle are others with solid claims in a competitive opener.
Le Musee (FR) 22-1 (11-7) Raced wide, steadied towards rear after 2nd, headway chasing leaders after 3 out, ridden and outpaced before next, plugged on in 4th between last two, 4th of 11, 6l behind Tip Top Cat (11-2) at Taunton 3m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Gala De Corton (FR) 11-2 (11-8) Chased leaders, went 2nd off final bend, led just after 3 out, ridden after 2 out, 2 1/2 lengths ahead when left well clear last, won at Doncaster 2m 1f hcp (4) sft in Dec beating Boulette (10-8) by 16l, 9 ran.
Ted's Friend (IRE) 7-1 (11-4) Led, mistake 3 out, soon headed, lost 2nd before last, weakened flat, lost 4th towards finish, 5th of 10, 17 1/2l behind Surrey Quest (11-4) at Doncaster 2m 3f (4) sft in Dec.
Creative Control (IRE) 5-6fav (11-7) Close up, ridden to chase leading pair 2 out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 5, 8 1/4l behind Enfin Phil (11-0) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Jay Jay Reilly (IRE) 6-4fav (11-5) Led, ridden and headed 2 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 7, 10l behind Earth Company (10-12) at Taunton 2m (4) gd in Nov.
Grangeclare Glory (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) Chased leaders on inside, led narrowly after 3 out, ridden and headed before next, soon lost 2nd, 3rd and well held when mistake last, ridden and no extra run-in, 3rd of 9, 8 3/4l behind Jpr One (11-12) at Taunton 2m 3f (4) sft in Jan.
Quest For Life 10-1 (11-5) Led, headed before 3 out, soon beaten, 9th of 10, 24 1/4l behind Glentruan (11-7) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Kavanaghs Cross (IRE) 3-1fav (10-0) Held up, headway on inner 3 out, ridden to dispute lead last, every chance flat, no extra final 100 yards, 2nd of 8, 2l behind Aurora Thunder (10-3) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Jan.
Romeo Brown 2-1 (10-5) Towards rear, headway to track leaders 3 out, ridden and stayed on towards finish, 4th of 9, 1 3/4l behind No Risk Des Flos (11-2) at Wetherby 2m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Hurricane Ali (IRE) 5-1 (10-8) Not fluent, held up towards rear, headway 3 out, mistake last, no impression on winner, took 2nd post, 3rd of 9, 5 1/2l behind Calvinist (10-3) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Sep.
Inishbiggle (IRE) 9-1 (10-11) Mid-division on inside, headway approaching 3 out, led before 2 out, clear flat, stayed on, won at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp (4) gs in Jan beating Peejaybee (11-12) by 2 1/4l, 14 ran.
Lord Condi (IRE) 66-1 (11-10) Towards rear, well adrift before 3 out, 9th of 10, 34 3/4l behind Demi Sang (11-2) at Wetherby 2m hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Headscarf Lil (IRE) 10-3fav (10-5) Travelled well, held up, headway to chase leaders 3 out, led last, ridden flat, ran on well, won at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Dec beating Off The Hook (11-0) by 3l, 8 ran.
Black Ebony 28-1 (11-9) Chased leaders on outside, reached at 2nd and 3rd, soon pressing leader, left in lead 5th, headed next, 3rd and held flat, stayed on towards finish, went 2nd close home, 2nd of 6, 1l behind Ten Past Midnight (10-3) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Near Kettering 25-1 (10-12) Always towards rear, never involved, last of 6, 18 1/2l behind The Grey Falco (11-8) at Haydock 2m hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Walk In The Wild (FR) 33-1 (11-3) Always towards rear, well beaten before 3 out, pulled up before last, at Exeter 2m 6f hcp (4) gs in Dec.