with winner until approaching 3rd, soon gave up, pulled up before 4th
jumped left, raced wide and always behind, hit 3rd, tailed off from 6th
tracked leaders, disputing 2nd 6th, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out
mid-division, mistake 2nd, headway 4th, no impression on leaders and wandered before 2 out, weakened approaching last
held up in rear, not fluent 2nd or 3rd, still in touch when hit 6th, weakened and pulled up before 2 out
made all, ridden and stayed on gamely flat
held up towards rear, headway approaching 5th, not fluent next, disputing 2nd 2 out, stayed on same pace flat
tracked leaders, mostly chased winner from 3rd, ridden approaching 2 out, stayed on under pressure, held flat
held up in mid-division, ridden after 6th, weakened approaching 2 out
All of MOUNTAINOUS' three runs under Rules have been on this track and he certainly wasn't stopping when getting off the mark over 2m on heavy ground three weeks ago. A 12lb higher mark will make life tougher today but Nigel Twiston-Davies' lightly-raced gelding may still be good enough to score again. Rimini is 4lb higher than when second over 2m here last time but is another with decent claims and Teshali is usually thereabouts, though his winning form is on faster ground. Numide appears to be on the downgrade while William Hogarth is hard to predict and returns from a break here. Armedanddangerous is lightly raced and may be best of the rest, though didn't get beyond halfway on his return to action at Carlisle.
William Hogarth 40-1 (10-11) Prominent, lost place 4 out, 14th of 18, 45l behind Arthurian Legend (10-6) at Chepstow 2m 4f hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gd in Oct.
Secret Dancer (IRE) 16-1 (11-5) Mistake 1st, in rear, mistake 3rd, lost touch before 3 out, tailed off, last of 13, well behind Bally Legend (11-9) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Dec.
Nampour (FR) 12-1 (11-6) Held up towards rear, pushed along after 5th, weakened approaching 6th, 11th of 14, 38l behind Tabaran (10-2) at Newton Abbot 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in May '10.
Drumbaloo (IRE) 6-1 (10-4) Mid-division, outpaced before 2 out, soon weakened, 12th of 19, well behind Poungach (11-4) at Sandown 2m 6f hcp hdl (2) gs in Dec.
Oenologue (FR) 17-2 (11-8) Held up in rear and keen, headway on outer approaching 6th, weakened after 3 out, pulled up before last, in a race won by Warne's Way (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) hvy in Nov '10, 9 ran.
Mountainous (IRE) 11-8fav (11-0) Tracked leaders, hit 1st, went 2nd from 3rd, led before 3 out, hit 2 out, stayed on well from last, eased towards finish, won at Ffos Las 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) hvy in Dec beating Scorched Son (11-12) by 4 1/2l, 6 ran.
Teshali (IRE) 33-1 (11-3) Mid-division, outpaced before 3 out, stayed on to go 3rd after last, no impression, 3rd of 11, 14l behind Grams And Ounces (10-0) at Leicester 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Dec.
Rimini (FR) 7-2fav (11-12) Chased leaders, ridden before 2 out, went 2nd after 2 out, stayed on same pace, no chance with winner, 2nd of 8, 4 1/2l behind Langley (10-6) at Ffos Las 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) hvy in Dec.
Armedanddangerous (IRE) 9-2 (11-8) In touch when fell 4th, in a race won by Ruff Diamond (11-12) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) hvy in Dec, 7 ran.
Numide (FR) 40-1 (11-9) Held up in rear, headway approaching 2 out, weakening when mistake last, 6th of 12, 24l behind Star Of Angels (11-12) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft.
