tracked winner, ridden before 3 out, kept on and no impression
held up towards rear, headway after 4 out to chase leaders, left 3rd 3 out, one pace
made all, clear before 2 out, kept on strongly
always behind, struggling before 5th
tracked leaders in 4th, outpaced 3 out
held up towards rear, pushed along and headway before 3 out, in 3rd and fell 3 out
held up in touch, pushed along before 3 out, weakening when fell 3 out
tracked leaders in 4th, ridden after 4 out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, blundered 5 out, weakened next
Raise A Spark may well have won at Sedgefield last month had he not slipped up on the final bend. This step up in distance will probably suit winning pointer and bumper Bun Doran but VINTAGE CLOUDS (NAP) beat Baratineur by nine lengths over these brush hurdles here in November before finding the drop back to 2m against him when second to Bigmartre - he should take all the beating, despite his penalty. High Hopper may be improving but Robinshill will probably need more time to mature.
Vintage Clouds (IRE) 6-5fav (11-5) Tracked leader, hard ridden to challenge 2 out, every chance when mistake last, stayed on strongly towards finish, 2nd of 10, 1 1/4l behind Bigmartre (11-5) at Haydock 2m (4) hvy in Dec.
Baratineur (FR) 11-4fav (11-5) Held up towards rear, headway to chase leaders approaching 3 out, every chance next, led before and jumped right at last, soon hung left under pressure, hard ridden closing stages, headed post, 2nd of 11, shd behind After Hours (10-13) at Haydock 2m hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Bun Doran (IRE) 6-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders on inside, went 2nd 5th until 2 out, 4th and no extra last, weakened flat, 4th of 12, 36l behind Buveur D'air (11-0) at Newbury 2m mdn (3) sft in Nov.
Craiganboy (IRE) 100-1 (11-2) Took keen hold, held up towards rear, some headway 3 out, never near leaders, left moderate 4th until fell last, at Ayr 2m 4f mdn (5) hvy in Jan.
High Hopper (IRE) 12-1 (10-12) Held up mid-division, headway before 3 out, ridden and blundered last, soon weakened, 4th of 8, 10 1/2l behind Ephraim (10-12) at Doncaster 3m (4) sft in Dec.
Raise A Spark 5-1 (10-12) Took keen hold, held up in touch, tracked leaders 5th, close up in 4th and going well when stumbled and fell on bend before 2 out, at Sedgefield 2m 4f (4) hvy in Dec.
Robinshill (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) Took keen hold, chasing leaders, effort 3 out, not fluent next, left in modest 2nd at last, no chance with easy winner, 2nd of 7, 24l behind Its'afreebee (11-5) at Haydock 2m 3f (4) hvy in Dec.
Sartorial Elegance 14-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, pushed along before 3 out, plugged on same pace, weakened between last two, 7th of 17, 34 1/2l behind Vieux Lille (10-12) at Exeter 2m 1f (4) hvy in Dec.
Pink Tara 25-1 (10-5) Chased leaders, progress before 4 out, soon beaten, weakening when blundered last, modest 4th, 4th of 6, dist behind Final Nudge (11-5) at Bangor 2m 1f (4) hvy in Nov.
