chased leader until 4th, stayed close up, pushed along after 8th, last and struggling 10th
chased leaders, chased leader after 8th until before 12th where jumped slowly, ridden and outpaced 3 out, rallied flat to take modest 3rd last stride
chased leaders, went 2nd 4th until after 8th, driven along in 4th after 3 out, one pace and no impression before next
held up in rear, went right 2nd, smooth headway 12th, tracked leading pair 3 out, 2nd travelling well before next where not fluent, led on bit last, not extended
held up in 6th, good headway before 11th, tracked leader before next, driven and dropped to 3rd before 2 out where mistake, no chance with front pair, lost modest 3rd post
in touch, ridden and struggling in 6th after 3 out
This race is in honour of the late grandmother of the chairman of the Daily Mail and although the result is unlikely to create any headlines, it can go the way of RAY MOND. Sean Curran rode the selection as a jockey way back in 2006 but his option in this race really improved earlier this year, winning five on the bounce. He has won half of the chases he has run in and despite racing off a career high mark and returning from a break, it is a positive that he has won on similar ground over this trip and he gets the vote. Sporting Rebel must be considered with a 9lb rise in the weights unlikely to dissuade interest after winning well at Fakenham. Plein Pouvoir could be the best of the rest for a trainer with a 24% strike-rate in recent seasons with entries over fences here.
Gaora Lane (IRE) 12-1 (11-10) Led to 2nd, tracked leaders, blundered 15th, soon lost place, weakened 3 out, 8th of 18, 37l behind Quattrocento (11-0) at Cheltenham 3m am hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Oct.
Sporting Rebel (IRE) 8-1 (10-7) Tracked leader, led 6th, clear 14th, hit 2 out, ran on, won at Fakenham 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Oct beating Pheidias (10-7) by 9l, 5 ran.
Plein Pouvoir (FR) 7-2 (10-8) Chased leaders, left 2nd at 10th, weakened approaching 3 out, 6th and well beaten when blundered last, 6th of 11, 44l behind Hey Big Spender (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-130 (2) sft in Jan.
Zarrafakt (IRE) 9-2 (11-7) Held up in touch, went 3rd approaching and hit 2 out, quickly weakened, 5th of 7, 39l behind Viking Blond (11-2) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) hvy in Mar.
Ray Mond 11-8fav (11-4) Jumped right, made all, hit 7th, clear after 3 out, pecked 2 out, eased near finish, won at Plumpton 2m 4f cond hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf in Apr beating Mister Wiseman (11-2) by 18l, 6 ran.
Stradbrook (IRE) 33-1 (10-11) Chased leaders to 5th, behind from 3 out, 11th of 13, 49l behind Ashkazar (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gd in Apr.
Oncle Kid (FR) 8-1 (10-4) In touch when blundered and unseated rider 6th, in a race won by The Rainbow Hunter (11-4) at Ffos Las 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs, 6 ran.
