tracked leaders, went 2nd from 2nd, ridden and weakened before 3 out
held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, switched left then hung left before 2 out, 4th and one pace last, well held flat
mid-division, headway from 5th, challenged 3 out, soon led, stumbled and headed 2 out, switched left before last, stayed on to press leader flat, led towards finish
chased leaders, driven after 2 out, weakened last
mid-division, not fluent 4th, headway before next, led before 3 out, soon headed, weakened after 2 out
held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, every chance when not fluent 2 out, unable to quicken flat
mid-division, headway before 3 out, led after 2 out, ridden and stayed on flat, headed towards finish
held up towards rear, mistake 4th, ridden and behind next, pulled up before 3 out
chased leaders, ridden and lost place before 3 out
tracked leader, led after 1st, not fluent 4th, headed before 3 out, soon weakened
held up in rear, fell 5th
led until after 1st, stayed handy, ridden after 4th, weakened from next, pulled up before 3 out
This looks quite competitive with recent course and distance winner Remember The Days and Haydock third Speed Company going on the short-list. Ey Up Rocky travelled well for a long way at Kempton last month and Dexcite was close up when falling at Warwick and should make his presence felt with a clear round. Monsieur Co has won over hurdles but all of his recent form has come over fences so we’ll taken a chance on MINELLAFORLEISURE, who hasn’t been disgraced in better races this season and is now 2lb lower than his last winning mark with Fergus Gregory’s claim a further plus. American Craftsman and Flash The Steel may be best of the rest.
Santiago de Cuba (IRE) 14-1 (11-3) Mid-division, slight mistake 4 out, weakened from next, 14th of 20, dist behind Black Key (11-8) at Galway 2m 5f hcp Yielding - Soft in Aug.
Minellaforleisure (IRE) 16-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, hard driven 2 out, no impression, weakened closing stages, 7th of 12, 7 3/4l behind Our Merlin (11-2) at Wincanton 1m 7f hcp (3) gd in Dec.
Flash The Steel (IRE) 7-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, not fluent 3 out, driven to challenge next, weakening when mistake last, 4th of 14, 18l behind Brewin'upastorm (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m (4) gs in Dec.
Monsieur Co (FR) 5-2 (11-12) Tracked leaders, went 2nd at 5th, ridden to lead approaching last, ran on, won at Musselburgh 2m hcp (4) gd in Dec beating Ontopoftheworld (12-6) by 1 1/2l, 5 ran.
Remember The Days (IRE) 9-4fav (11-2) Raced keenly, in touch on outside, joined leader after 3rd, led next, made rest, hit 2 out, hard pressed when not fluent last, soon ridden, driven out flat, always doing enough, won at Doncaster 2m 1f hcp (4) gd in Dec beating Kings Inn (11-1) by 2l, 6 ran.
Speed Company (IRE) 5-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, mistake 3rd, headway before 3 out, held together until ridden and one pace from last, 3rd of 9, 6l behind Cornerstone Lad (11-12) at Haydock 2m hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Ey Up Rocky 14-1 (10-12) Held up in mid-division, headway on inside after 3 out, switched left and went 2nd between last 2, tried to challenge last, easily outpaced run-in, 2nd of 13, 3 1/2l behind Epatante (10-5) at Kempton 2m (4) gd in Nov.
Dexcite (FR) 7-2fav (11-8) Held up mid-division, headway 3 out, close up in narrow 3rd when fell next, at Warwick 2m hcp (4) gd in Nov.
American Craftsman (IRE) 16-1 (10-11) Close up, ridden 2 out, kept on one pace, 4th of 11, 3 1/2l behind William H Bonney (11-12) at Hereford 2m hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Teaser 6-1 (10-12) Prominent, raced keenly, not fluent 4 out, led 2 out, ran on well, won at Warwick 2m mdn (4) gs in Dec beating Metatrons Cube (10-12) by 2 3/4l, 14 ran.
Green Zone (IRE) 11-1 (11-9) Held up, headway 3 out, chased leaders next, led just after last, hung left under pressure closing stages, ran on well, won at Newcastle 2m hcp (5) sft in Dec beating Copt Hill (10-4) by 3 1/4l, 12 ran.
Old Salt (IRE) 10-1 (10-12) Led narrowly to 4th, tracked winner, lost place after 4 out, weakened from next, 5th of 6, 16 1/2l behind Remember The Days (11-2) at Doncaster 2m 1f hcp (4) gd in Dec.
