in lead when in view after 1st, close 2nd when in view after 4th, towards rear and pushed along when in view after 4 out, in lead at finish (no time taken due to poor visibility)
prominent when in view after 1st, lost place when in view after 4th, in touch when in view after 4 out, 2nd at finish
held up towards rear when in view after 1st, still there but in touch when in view after 4 out, 3rd at finish
held up in rear when in view after 1st, in touch when in view after 4 out, 4th and finish
mid-division when in view after 1st, in touch when in view after 4 out, 7th at finish
mid-division when in view after 1st, pushed along when in view after 4th, pulled up between there and when back in view after 4 out
prominent when in view after 1st, in lead when in view after 4 out, 6th and finish
prominent when in view after 1st, narrow lead when in view after 4th, close 2nd when in view after 4 out, soon weakened, last at finish
held up when in view after 1st, 4th when in view after 4th, 3rd when in view after 4 out, 5th at finish
A pretty competitive finale with more than half the field winning last time out. Clyne is on a real roll but will have to defy a further 8lb rise if he’s to complete the four-timer. The hat-trick seeking El Terremoto has been raised 6lb since last month’s course and distance victory and Super Sam steps up in grade again with another 7lb after scoring at Leicester. DRAYTONIAN looked as though he’d benefit from his third at Ascot and he won on soft going at Warwick in the spring. He gets a tentative vote, though Le Rocher wasn’t far behind at Ascot and the three-year-old Great Tempo has improved with experience.
Clyne 9-2 (11-12) Tracked leader, led 4 out, ridden after last, kept on well, won at Haydock 2m hcp (3) hvy in Nov beating Verni (11-5) by 7l, 7 ran.
Le Rocher (FR) 9-2 (11-7) Low head carriage, tracked leaders, ridden approaching last, weakened run-in, 4th of 8, 7 3/4l behind Eddiemaurice (10-3) at Ascot 2m hcp (2) gs in Nov.
El Terremoto (FR) 9-4fav (10-7) Tracked leaders, went 3rd before 3 out, led last kept on well, won at Haydock 2m 3f hcp (2) hvy in Nov beating Massini's Trap (11-3) by 2 3/4l, 6 ran.
Draytonian (IRE) 4-1 (10-11) Held up in 5th, headway into close 2nd before 2 out, pushed along and lost 2nd between last 2, driven in 3rd and one pace run-in, 3rd of 8, 3 1/4l behind Eddiemaurice (10-3) at Ascot 2m hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Cooking Fat 13-2 (11-8) Mid-division, headway 7th, 2nd before 3 out, led approaching next, clear before last, easily, won at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Nov beating Tap Night (11-12) by 12l, 10 ran.
Lettheriverrundry (IRE) 66-1 (10-13) Slipped approaching 1st, soon behind and not fluent, reminder after 3rd, lost touch 7th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out, at Bangor 2m 1f (4) sft in Dec.
Super Sam 10-11fav (10-13) Tracked leaders, led before 3 out, kept on well run-in, won at Ffos Las 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Nov beating Southport (11-7) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
Great Tempo (FR) 1-25fav (10-12) Made all, soon clear, unchallenged, canter, won at Hexham 2m mdn (5) hvy in Dec beating Ashjan (10-12) by dist, 3 ran.
Sharp Response (IRE) 11-4fav (10-6) Soon tracked leaders, led before 3 out, headed last 150 yards, kept on same pace and lost 2nd place towards finish, 3rd of 10, 5 1/2l behind Ami Desbois (11-8) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
