held up in rear, headway after 4 out, in 4th and weakening when hit 3 out
in touch in 4th, led 4 out, pushed along and headed 3 out, regained lead after 2 out, kept on gamely, driven out
held up towards rear, headway approaching 8th, smooth headway to lead on bit 3 out, mistake and jumped right 2 out, soon headed, one pace from last
tracked leaders in 3rd, pushed along before 8th, ridden before 4 out, soon weakened
chased leader, pushed along before 8th, joined leader 4 out, soon ridden, chased leading pair from next, kept on from last
led and set good pace, hit 3rd, clear before and hit 7th, headed 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off
BENSALEM appeared to blow up after travelling strongly for a long way on his reappearance behind Grand Crus in this grade at Cheltenham last month. Sure to strip fitter here, Alan King's giant eight-year-old must be the selection getting 4lb from Any Given Day, who has run well in a couple of recent starts at Cheltenham over a shorter trip but is largely unproven over 3m. Cross Kennon stays well but all of his form is at a lower level, though he should reverse Huntingdon running with Mr Moonshine on 18lb better terms. Kayf Aramis has had his limitations exposed at this level and Chief Dan George will be back over fences soon and is probably using this as a warm up for Cheltenham.
Any Given Day (IRE) 7-2 (11-8) Held up in 6th, niggled along on outside from 6th, headway approaching 2 out, chased winner approaching last and soon close up, no impression and readily held final 100 yards, stayed on, 2nd of 7, 7l behind Oscar Whisky (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hdl (2) gs in Jan.
Cross Kennon (IRE) 11-2 (11-12) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 8th, ridden before next, well held 3 out, went 2nd last, no chance with heavily eased winner, 2nd of 13, 4l behind Mr Moonshine (10-8) at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl (2) sft in Jan.
Bensalem (IRE) 11-2 (11-0) Took ken hold, held up in mid-division, headway from 3 out, went 3rd 2 out until last, weakened flat, 5th of 14, 18l behind Grands Crus (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m hdl G2 (1) gs in Jan.
Chief Dan George (IRE) 33-1 (11-7) Keen early, in touch, outpaced 11th, soon lost place, behind from 14th, tailed off, last of 7, well behind Imperial Commander (11-7) at Haydock 3m chs G1 (1) gs in Nov.
Kayf Aramis 33-1 (11-0) Raced wide, close up, weakened 9th, soon behind, tailed off, 8th of 14, 42l behind Grands Crus (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m hdl G2 (1) gs in Jan.
Mr Moonshine (IRE) 16-1 (10-8) Made all, drew clear from 9th, 17 lenghts ahead 2 out, heavily eased flat, won at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl (2) sft in Jan beating Cross Kennon (11-12) by 4l, 13 ran.
