chased leader, led 6th, headed before not fluent next, led last (normal 2 out), headed before not much room final bend, soon weakened
mid-division, weakened after 6th
chased leaders, lost place after 5th, closed 7th, went 2nd final bend, unable to trouble winner, stayed on
prominent, jumped path on approach to 1st, hampered, faltered and lost place 1st, headway after 5th, weakened from 7th, pulled up before last (normal 2 out)
towards rear, not much room 1st, plugged on from last (normal 2 out), almost took 3rd, never dangerous
jumped right and not always fluent, led until 6th, led before next, headed last (normal 2 out), hampered and weakened final bend
mid-division, closed from 7th, led before final bend, stayed on, driven out
in rear, headway on outside before 6th, weakened from 7th
chased leaders, not much room 1st, lost place after 6th, pulled up before 2 out
SHINJI won a bumper here before running in an Aintree Grade 2. He was beaten a long way on his hurdling debut at Stratford but will have come on for the experience and has the scope to do better. Colonel Whizz was in touch for a long way before weakening at Market Rasen while winning bumper Cuban Court makes his debut over timber and has a fine pedigree for jumping. Star Legend is well exposed but ran well at Huntingdon last time while Our Pink Lady found 2m6f much too far at Stratford last time.
Alright Dai (IRE) 17-2 (11-4) Chased leader, lost 2nd before not fluent 3 out, weakened before 2 out, 7th of 8, 19 1/4l behind Booster Bob (11-4) at Uttoxeter 2m mdn (4) gs in Oct.
Book Of Verse (USA) 250-1 (11-4) Raced in 4th, jumped right 5th, went remote 3rd after 3, 3rd of 6, 27 1/2l behind Mr Mackay (11-2) at Huntingdon 2m 4f mdn (4) gd in Oct.
Colonel Whizz (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, not fluent 4th, ridden before 2 out, weakened before last, 6th of 11, 15l behind Afta Party (11-0) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f (4) sft in Oct.
Cuban Court (IRE) 20-1 (11-9) Prominent, pushed along 4f out, gradually weakened, 12th of 14, dist behind Bertie's Ballet (11-9) at Kelso 2m (2) sft in Mar.
Melton Mossy (IRE) 17-2 (11-1) Close up, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and faded gradually from over 1f out, 4th of 6, 25l behind Brechin Castle (11-2) at Sedgefield 2m 1f (5) sft in Oct.
Shinji (IRE) 4-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, went 2nd before 4th, mistake next, ridden final bend, no impression on winner last, 2nd of 11, 18l behind Shetland Tony (10-13) at Stratford 2m (4) gd in Oct.
Star Legend (IRE) 13-2 (11-2) In rear, in touch, headway into 3rd 3 out, chased leader approaching 2 out, ridden before last, stayed on, no impression, 2nd of 7, 3 1/4l behind Jack Sprat (11-2) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp (5) gs in Nov.
Our Pink Lady (IRE) 33-1 (11-2) Mid-division, lost touch 2 out, soon pulled up, at Stratford 2m 6f mdn (4) sft in Nov.
Stop This Train (IRE) 50-1 (10-11) Held up last, always outpaced and tailed off from before 4 out, pulled up before 3 out, at Worcester 2m 7f mdn (4) gd in Sep.
