tracked leader until 5th, tracked leaders, pushed along and dropped to rear at 8th, weakened 3 out, tailed off
close up, tracked winner 4 out, ridden 2 out, one pace and lost 2 places run in
soon led, headed 8th, soon ridden, tracked leaders next, ridden and outpaced 2 out, headway approaching last, stayed on to go 2nd close home
held up, headway 4 out, ridden 2 out, stayed on to go 3rd close home
raced wide close up, jumped left and bumped rival 4 out, kept on same pace
towards rear, headway 3 out, ridden next, kept on same pace
in rear, pushed along when bumped and nearly fell 4 out, pulled up soon after 2 out
close up, went 2nd at 5th, led 8th, clear 2 out, ran on
Though he didn’t pull up any trees over fences last season, GLIMPSE OF GOLD has been in the form of his life over hurdles since switching to Sarah Humphrey and he’ll probably win this if his jumping is up to scratch as he’s potentially thrown in. Wisecracker is 1-22 over fences but has place claims again but blinkers would have to work the oracle with Goldencard. Champion Chase has also had plenty of chances but Muilean Na Madog ran well for third on his first run for Dan Skelton at Lingfield and could improve on that.
Shady Oaks (IRE) 18-1 (11-12) Mid-division, ridden before 10th, behind from 13th, 6th of 8, dist behind Northern Bound (11-12) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp (5) gd in Sep.
Glimpse Of Gold 9-2 (11-4) Pressed leader, left in lead 4th, hit 3 out, stayed on gamely flat, won at Fakenham 2m hcp (4) gd in Oct beating Jackson Hill (11-11) by 1 3/4l, 10 ran.
Goldencard (IRE) 11-1 (11-12) Led 2nd, not fluent and headed next, slow and reminder 4th, outpaced after 4 out, well beaten from next, 8th of 9, 15 1/2l behind Princess Midnight (10-5) at Hereford 2m hcp (5) gs in Nov.
Wisecracker 4-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, ridden before 2 out, went 2nd approaching last, kept on, no impression on winner, 2nd of 9, 2 1/4l behind Princess Midnight (10-5) at Hereford 2m hcp (5) gs in Nov.
Champion Chase (FR) 9-1 (10-8) Tendency to jump right, prominent, hit 2nd, awkward 3rd where led chasing group, ridden after 3 out, one pace, 3rd of 14, 5 1/2l behind Desque De L'Isle (11-7) at Lingfield 2m hcp (5) sft in Oct.
Torrent Des Mottes (FR) 50-1 (10-9) Mid-division, mistake 1st, headway 9th, tracking leaders and every chance before 4 out, weakened quickly 3 out, faded, 8th of 14, 36 1/4l behind City Never Sleeps (11-2) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (5) sft in Oct.
Muilean Na Madog (IRE) 11-4fav (10-4) Raced keenly tracking leaders on inside, went 2nd 7th, led and went right 3 out, went right again next, slowed into last, ridden and headed run-in, weakened quickly, 3rd of 10, 7 1/4l behind Avoir De Soins (11-5) at Lingfield 2m 4f hcp (5) sft in Nov.
Gold Fields 9-2 (10-4) Held up in rear, not fluent 6th, headway before 2 out, weakened last, 6th of 8, 29l behind Echo Express (11-8) at Carlisle 2m 3f hcp (5) sft in Mar.
