mid-division, outpaced after 15th, plugged on into 4th 3 out, no impression, went badly left and weakened 2 out
held up rear of mid-division, not fluent 2nd, slow and last 4th, well beaten after 15th, pulled up before 3 out
jumped left at times, held up towards rear, not fluent 2nd, headway 12th, not fluent 14th, went 2nd after 15th, challenged last, led inside final 100 yards, stayed on
held up towards rear, closed 14th, disputing 2nd when not much room 2 out, 3rd and held from last
prominent, not fluent 10th, led 13th, jumped right 2 out, headed inside final 100 yards, edged left towards finish, held close home
led until slow 4th, led 6th, slow 7th, headed 13th, mistake 15th, weakened before 3 out
jumped left at times, chased leaders, not fluent 2nd or 11th, lost place 13th, mistake 14th, struggling after next, well beaten 2 out
held up towards rear, blundered and unseated rider 2nd
chased leaders on outside, led and reached at 4th, headed 6th, weakened after 15th, tailed off
Famous Bridge had a length to spare over Credo in a similar race over the track and trip a month ago. He will be 2lb worse off so there is little between them though the one to take from the race is Eleanor Bob. She was returning from a very long break and led to the last before fading and has been left on the same mark. ENQARDE (NAP) won this by 10 lengths a year ago and, though successful at Warwick on last month‘s reappearance, will be racing from a 1lb lower mark so gets the nod to complete the double. Bill Baxter was in brilliant form last winter and may have been unbeaten in five starts but for falling at Hereford. The Topham Trophy winner was not disgraced in the Coral Gold Cup last time and should be at peak fitness.
Bill Baxter (IRE) 18-1 (10-2) Front mid-division, pushed along and no real progress 3 out, 8th of 20, 21 1/4l behind Datsalrightgino (10-7) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp (1) gs in Dec.
Cooper's Cross (IRE) 11-1 (11-5) Towards rear, pushed along before 2 out where jumped right, soon weakened, 8th of 10, dist behind Gesskille (11-7) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp (2) hvy in Nov.
Famous Bridge (IRE) 9-4fav (11-8) Mid-division, jumped left 1st, slow 3rd, headway 11th, led last, stayed on well, ridden out, won at Haydock 3m 2f hcp (2) sft in Nov beating Credo (11-9) by 1l, 10 ran.
Credo (IRE) 11-2 (11-9) Held up towards rear, headway after 15th, driven before 2 out, switched left before last, went 2nd towards finish, stayed on, 2nd of 10, 1l behind Famous Bridge (11-8) at Haydock 3m 2f hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Burrows Diamond (FR) 8-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders in chasing group, closed 4 out, ridden to chase winner approaching last, kept on one pace, 2nd of 5, 17l behind Zambella (11-6) at Aintree 2m 4f lst (1) hvy in Dec.
Dr Kananga 22-1 (11-4) Prominent, led 3rd, headed 4th, led 5th, jumped left and bumped rival 6th, weakened after 3 out, 11th of 23, dist behind Angels Dawn (11-0) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp (2) sft in Mar.
Enqarde (FR) 10-1 (10-11) In rear, in touch, hit 16th, steady headway before 2 out, ridden and went 5th 2 out, kept on into 3rd jumping last, stayed on well run-in to lead final strides, won at Warwick 3m 1f hcp (3) sft in Nov beating Docpickedme (11-1) by hd, 7 ran.
Conkwell Legend 66-1 (11-4) Chased winner until before 2nd, in touch, mistake 9th, 3rd and outpaced before 3 out, well beaten 2 out, 3rd of 4, 33 1/2l behind Stay Away Fay (11-7) at Sandown 3m (1) sft in Dec.
Eleanor Bob 7-1 (10-11) Jumped right, led, ridden and headed last, faded into 4th flat, 4th of 10, 4 1/4l behind Famous Bridge (11-8) at Haydock 3m 2f hcp (2) sft in Nov.