mid-division, effort before 3 out, never dangerous
always behind, tailed off
led to before 3 out, soon weakened
chased leaders, ridden before 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up
tracked leaders until 4 out
chased leaders, led before 3 out, clear from next
tracked leaders, ridden before last, chased winner from last, no impression
held up mid-division, weakened before 3 out
always towards rear, pulled up before 3 out
held up in touch, weakened after 4 out
held up mid-division, ridden after 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off, pulled up
towards rear, headway before 3 out, plugged on to take remote 3rd from last
mid-division, headway before 3 out, weakened before last
held up mid-division, headway before 3 out to chase leaders, one pace
mid-division, pushed along and weakened before 3 out
held up mid-division, weakened from 4 out, tailed off
held up in touch, ridden and weakened before 3 out
EMERGING TALENT has been an expensive failure on more than one occasion but Paul Nicholls' talented novice surely only need jump safely around here to open his account. He's been placed in Grade 2 and Listed company and looks in a different league to today's opposition. Ebadani probably wouldn't need to improve much on his debut fourth at Huntingdon to make the frame while Pilgrims Bay could be the pick of David Pipe's quartet. De Bene Esse is a possible improver but Gala Ball still has plenty to prove and more interesting is the JP McManus-owned Kayf Tara newcomer Smart Thinking.
Bingo D'Olivate (FR) 25-1 (11-8) Fell 1st, at Huntingdon 2m mdn (5) gs in Nov.
Brin D'avoine (FR) 13-2 (11-7) With leaders, weakened over 3f out, 7th of 10, 37 3/4l behind Drumcliff (11-7) at Taunton 2m (4) gs in Dec.
De Bene Esse (IRE) 9-4fav (10-12) In touch, ridden 4 out, weakened next, tailed off, 8th of 10, dist behind Alibi De Sivola (10-12) at Carlisle 2m 3f (4) hvy in Nov.
Dinky Challenger 150-1 (10-12) Always towards rear, tailed off 4 out, pulled up, at Taunton 3m (4) gs in Dec.
Ebadani (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, stayed on same pace from next, 4th of 15, 11 1/2l behind Cyrius Moriviere (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m (4) gs in Dec.
Emerging Talent (IRE) 8-11fav (11-0) Prominent, every chance 3 out, ridden before last, in 3rd when blundered last, soon weakened, 4th of 6, 7 1/4l behind Roadie Joe (11-4) at Chepstow 2m 3f (1) gd in Oct.
Gala Ball (IRE) 10-1 (10-12) Never better than mid-division, 6th of 12, dist behind Final Nudge (10-12) at Wincanton 2m 5f (4) hvy in Nov.
Iniciar (GER) 11-2 (10-12) In rear, weakened from 2 out, 7th of 9, 25 1/2l behind Holly Bush Henry (10-12) at Doncaster 2m 1f (4) gd in Nov.
King Simba (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders on outside, hanging badly right and lost place before 3rd, behind 3 out, tailed off, 8th of 9, dist behind North Hill Harvey (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 1f (3) sft in Dec.
Lift The Lid (IRE) 5-1 (11-2) Led, headed over 2f out, lost 2nd place over 1f out, no extra, 3rd of 6, 11l behind Simply Rouge (10-9) at Market Rasen 2m 1f (6) gd in May.
Lime Street (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) In touch, weakened before 3 out, 5th of 8, 23 1/2l behind Ma du Fou (11-5) at Bangor 2m 1f (4) sft in Dec.
One Cool Scorpion (IRE) 66-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, behind 4th, 10th of 15, dist behind Cyrius Moriviere (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m (4) gs in Dec.
Pilgrims Bay (IRE) 100-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, some headway after 5th, no impression, weakened from 3 out, 7th of 12, dist behind Buveur D'air (11-0) at Newbury 2m mdn (3) sft in Nov.
Sandford Castle (IRE) 100-1 (11-0) Always towards rear, 15th of 16, dist behind Le Prezien (11-0) at Ludlow 2m mdn (4) sft in Dec.
Smart Thinking (IRE) Kayf Tara gelding out of Dame D'asie.
Still Together (IRE) 66-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, ridden and blundered 2 out, weakened before last, 7th of 17, 14 3/4l behind Unbuckled (10-7) at Doncaster 2m 1f mdn (5) gs in Dec.
The Minkle (IRE) 100-1 (11-0) Towards rear, pushed along before 4 out, never involved, 10th of 15, dist behind Wait For Me (11-0) at Newbury 2m mdn (4) sft in Dec.
Trans Express (IRE) 100-1 (11-0) Chased winner until went left 3rd, chased leaders, dropped to rear and struggling before next, tailed off, last of 5, dist behind Yanworth (11-7) at Ascot 2m (1) sft in Dec.
