held up in rear, never on terms
tracked leaders, outpaced after 9th, stayed on flat
took keen hold in touch on outside, not fluent 6th, 2nd when mistake next, weakened approaching 3 out
held up towards rear, took keen hold, headway 8th, challenged 3 out, led when not fluent next, hung left and headed flat, no extra towards finish
tracked leaders, disputing 2nd and ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, led 3rd, not fluent 5th, ridden and headed when not fluent 2 out, no extra
held up, headway after 6th, ridden and lost place 9th, weakened approaching 3 out
held up towards rear, ridden before 9th, soon behind
led until 3rd, lost place 7th, well behind after 9th
prominent, not fluent 4th, lost place after 5th, rallied 7th, weakened after 3 out
held up in rear, not fluent 1st, headway approaching 9th, challenged last, led flat, stayed on well
held up, headway approaching 9th, challenging when mistake 3 out, no extra flat
mid-division, rear when not fluent 8th, headway approaching 3 out, weakened from 2 out
Prince Tom is entitled to huge respect representing Paul Nicholls, especially as he's likely to leave his Wincanton effort behind now running over further on testing ground. That said he doesn't appear to have much in hand over the handicapper and may be worth taking on with fellow top-weight OSCAR CLOSE. George Baker's charge landed an ordinary soft-ground flat maiden on his debut for the yard before struggling slightly on a sounder surface, so a return to these conditions looks sure to suit. He jumped well when last seen at Fontwell but simply found things happening too quickly which is unlikely to be the case here and he's nominated as an each-way selection. John's Gift attracted support before finishing third on his handicap debut here but will need to settle better to win while Omix D'or has claims on his form over fences but looks opposable under the conditions of this contest.
Oscar Close (IRE) 2-1fav (11-0) Tracked leaders on outer, led approaching 2nd, headed 3rd, chased winner approaching 2 out, soon outpaced, rallied from last, kept on, 3rd of 9, 7l behind Harvest Song (10-9) at Fontwell 2m 2f mdn hdl (4) gd in May.
Prince Tom 5-1fav (11-7) Chased leading trio, pushed along before 6th, 3rd on inside before 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on same pace flat, 4th of 8, 3l behind Uffa Fox (10-4) at Wincanton 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in Oct.
Krackatara 10-1 (11-10) Held up in rear, hit 6th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Cantabilly (11-3) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Oct, 15 ran.
Five Star Wilsham (IRE) 5-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, pushed along approaching 7th, chased winner after 3 out, weakened after 2 out, 5th of 12, 18l behind Oedipe (10-12) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) gd in May.
Boomtown Kat 40-1 (11-4) Towards rear, pushed along 5th, headway after 3 out, soon ridden kept on from last to take 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 15, 5l behind Cantabilly (11-3) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Oct.
Dingat (IRE) 16-1 (10-0) Chased leaders, mistake 2nd, going well enough before 3 out, ridden before next and slightly outpaced, kept on again flat, 6th of 17, 5l behind Russian War (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gd in Oct.
Days of Pleasure (IRE) 15-2 (11-0) In touch, chased leaders 3rd, led 5th until next, led approaching 4 out, strongly pressed from last, carried slightly right flat, held on gamely, won at Fontwell 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Apr beating Hampton Court (10-2) by hd, 7 ran.
Omix D'or (FR) 9-1 (10-9) Prominent, led 19th, mistake 3 out, stayed on well from last, won at Perth 3m 7f hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Apr beating Petite Margot (11-8) by 11l, 17 ran.
Dawn At Sea 9-1 (11-5) Tracked leader until 7th, weakened approaching 3 out, 6th of 10, 33l behind Gan On (11-5) at Worcester 2m 4f mrs hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Oct.
Bally Conn (IRE) 16-1 (11-3) Towards rear, tailed off when blundered 4 out, soon pulled up, in a race won by Elusive Muse (10-7) at Taunton 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Apr, 16 ran.
Victors Serenade (IRE) 12-1 (11-3) Held up, towards rear, jumped badly left and mistake 2nd, jumped left 4th and next when weakening, 9th of 14, 26l behind Real Treasure (10-10) at Exeter 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) gs in Feb.
John's Gift 13-2 (11-2) Close up, chased leader approaching 3 out, ridden and one pace from 2 out, 3rd of 13, 3 1/2l behind Lemon Silk (10-10) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Oct.
Monsieur Cadou (FR) 4-1 (11-10) Mid-division, outpaced 3 out, weakened after next, behind when pulled up before last, in a race won by Flying Doctor (10-6) at Hexham 3m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs in May, 16 ran.
