Though carrying a penalty for a recent win at Bangor, NIGHT OF PASSION still looks up to landing a hat-trick. Proven over today's trip, Jeremy Scott's mare may just have the edge on Cash Injection. The latter scored over 2m6f here last month when Comical Red was tailed off. Count Vettori is dropped in class having shown little on his recent reappearance while General Girling finished closer at Fontwell last time and may figure once again.
Count Vettori (IRE) 66-1 (10-1) Held up, mistake 3rd, headway approaching 4 out, no impression when mistake next, 10th of 17, 34l behind Ballyculla (11-8) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) sft in Nov.
Night Of Passion (IRE) 11-8fav (10-12) Tracked leaders, led 2 out, ridden and ran on, won at Bangor 3m hcp hdl 0-100 (5) sft in Dec beating Golden Calf (11-12) by 11l, 11 ran.
Cash Injection 7-1 (10-7) Chased leaders, led 5th, clear before 3 out, mistake 2 out, 3 lengths ahead last, just held on, all out, won at Exeter 2m 5f 4yo Am hcp 0-100 (5) sft in Dec beating Bedouin Bay (11-3) by nk, 14 ran.
Marmalade Man 33-1 (10-5) Held up in touch, pushed along after 5th, weakened before 2 out, 7th of 10, 23l behind Rior (10-11) at Wincanton 2m 6f nov hcp hdl (0-115) (4) gd in Dec.
Ballyegan (IRE) 12-1 (11-8) Held up in 6th, tailed off 13th, pulled up soon after, in a race won by Glenwood Prince (11-9) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-95 (5) hvy in Nov, 9 ran.
General Girling 7-1 (10-10) Mid-division, headway to chase leaders 4 out, outpaced after next, kept on well towards finish, 3rd of 12, 4l behind Osmosia (10-2) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Dec.
Comical Red 14-1 (9-10) Chased leaders, pushed along approaching 8th, weakened before 3 out, 6th of 14, 42l behind Cash Injection (10-7) at Exeter 2m 5f 4yo Am hcp 0-100 (5) sft in Dec.