mostly jumped well, made all, bit slow at 5th, came clear before 2 out, unchallenged
raced keenly, tracked winner throughout, pushed along and well held before 2 out where left in clear 2nd
mistakes, tracked leaders on inside, hit 2nd, mistake and dropped to rear 7th, never on terms after, left remote 4th 2 out
raced wide tracking leaders, hit 8th, pushed along approaching 4 out, hung left under pressure weakened and no impression from next, left modest 3rd 2 out
waited with in rear, gained a place 7th, headway on inside before 3 out, challenging for well held 2nd when fell 2 out
Maire Banrigh is 2-2 over fences but her defeat of Thomas Darby at Warwick has not really worked out. Baddesley Knight also has scope and has wind surgery since scoring at Wincanton last month but LUST FOR GLORY has been looking ready for a switch to fences and, having already won a point, is getting a few pounds from his likely market rivals. Another chasing debutant, Grey Diamond, is also respected but Eskendash has shown little over the larger obstacles so far.
Maire Banrigh 6-4 (10-13) Made all, driven flat, held on well, won at Warwick 2m (3) gs in Nov beating Thomas Darby (11-1) by 1l, 5 ran.
Baddesley Knight (IRE) 5-2fav (11-6) Chased leaders, mistake 7th, led before 3 out, not fluent last, ran on, won at Wincanton 2m hcp (3) gd in Nov beating Moonlighter (11-8) by 2 1/4l, 9 ran.
Lust For Glory (IRE) 5-1 (11-9) Mid-division on inside, effort 2f out, weakened before last, 13th of 16, dist behind Dame De Compagnie (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Grey Diamond (FR) 5-1 (11-10) Prominent, led 3rd, clear after 3 out until before 2 out, headed approaching last, no impression on winner, 2nd of 12, 7l behind Sebastopol (11-10) at Wincanton 1m 7f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Eskendash (USA) 17-2 (11-0) Raced keenly, held up in 4th place on inside, not fluent 4th, switched off rail before 3 out, weakened 2 out, last of 5, 17 1/4l behind Knight In Dubai (11-6) at Doncaster 2m 3f (4) gs in Dec.