made most until ridden and headed last, no impression on winner flat
prominent, ridden after 6th, lost place 8th, behind when pulled up before 12th
mid-division, blundered 1st, jumped left and not fluent next, ridden 14th, no impression next, weakened before last
held up in rear, headway 8th, led last, driven clear flat, stayed on well
held up in rear, not fluent 9th, effort after 14th, ridden and 5 lengths 7th when brought down 2 out (normal 3 out)
pressed leader, mistake 6th, ridden 13th, outpaced after next, one pace and no impression when jumped left and not fluent last
chased leaders, closed 13th, pushed along disputing close 3rd when fell 2 out (normal 3 out)
held up towards rear, headway 11th, went 2nd 14th until after next, one pace and no impression in 3rd before last
Green Bank and the lightly-raced Spirit River both have an absence to overcome. Vikekhal barely raised a gallop last time and is now blinkered but Head Spin is capable of making the frame if in the mood as he stays well. Strumble Head's third at Ffos Las puts him bang in the picture and he's only 3lb higher than when scoring over course and distance in October but he still has to give 4lb to LEG IRON. Sheena West's gelding isn't easy to catch right but can race off the same mark as when only beaten a length at Plumpton last time and he's been placed around here in the past.
Strumble Head (IRE) 14-1 (11-11) Tracked leader, led 3rd, ridden 3 out, headed narrowly between last 2, every chance last, no extra flat, 3rd of 8, 4 1/2l behind Pigeon Island (11-5) at Ffos Las 3m hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in May.
Leg Iron (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Led until approaching 3rd, slow 6th, soon lost place, under pressure 11th, rallied 3 out, hard ridden to challenge next, kept on well closing stages, 2nd of 5, 1l behind Fix It Right (11-5) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gf in Apr.
Green Bank (IRE) 4-1 (11-7) Led, hit 14th, pushed along and joined 4 out, headed before 3 out, weakened quickly, last of 5, 33l behind Caulfields Venture (11-12) at Exeter 3m hcp chs 0-120 (4) gf in Oct.
Vikekhal (FR) 10-1 (11-4) Held up in touch, ridden to chase clear pair after 5 out to next, soon weakened, tailed off, 5th of 9, well behind Greenlaw (11-4) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in May.
Spirit River (FR) 16-1 (10-12) Led, ridden before 2 out, headed 2 out, one pace, 2nd of 3, 12l behind Degooch (10-12) at Bangor 2m 4f nov chs (4) gf in Jul.
Back In June 12-1 (11-12) Prominent until mistake 2nd, tracked leaders, lost place 8th, not fluent next, ridden 11th, mistake 15th, stayed on approaching 2 out, went 2nd before last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 9, 17l behind Young Cheddar (11-4) at Newton Abbot 3m 2f 5yo nov hcp (4) gs in May.
Head Spin (IRE) 9-2 (10-10) Held up, headway 10th, went 3rd from 13th, stayed on same pace from 3 out, 3rd of 8, 10l behind Prince Des Marais (11-5) at Warwick 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in May.
Orfeo Conti (FR) 28-1 (11-3) Always towards rear, tailed off, 5th of 11, well behind Lets Get Serious (11-3) at Fontwell 3m 4f hts chs (6) gs in May.