always towards rear
held up, headway 8th, challenged after 3 out, hard ridden after next, lost 2nd and beaten approaching last
tracked leaders on outside, challeged 7th, led next, ridden and stayed on well flat
prominent, jumped left 6th, ridden after 3 out, stayed on to take 2nd approaching last, no impression and kept on same pace flat
prominent, hampered 6th, ridden after next, weakened 3 out
led until 8th, outpaced after 2 out, stayed on approaching last to take 3rd flat
hit 1st, always in rear, pulled up after 2 out
held up towards rear on outside, headway when hampered 6th, not fluent 2 out, stayed on same pace, mistake last
mid-division, headway 4th, not fluent 3 out, soon weakened
held up in touch, ridden after 3 out, stayed on same pace from next
in rear, reminders after 3rd and 4th, effort 3 out, weakened before next
prominent, hampered 6th, ridden and lost place 8th, soon weakened, tailed off
in touch, lost several places before 5th, struggling 3 out
Jonjo O'Neill has Salpierre firing on all cylinders and the six-year-old will make a bold bid to complete his hat-trick under McCoy, even though the handicapper hasn't reacted kindly to November's wins at Southwell and Warwick. Victors Serenade deserves respect having won and finished third over 3m at Exeter on his two starts this term, while Tin Pot Man is only 2lb higher than when runner-up at Ffos Las last time. But there may well be more to come from HENRY HOOK, who disappointed last season but finally seems to have grasped the nettle now if his Towcester win is a reliable guide. Willandrich may be best of the rest back on his favoured soft ground.
Henry Hook (IRE) 17-2 (11-5) Held up in touch, went 2nd 6th, not fluent next, challenged 3 out, stayed on well, ridden out, won at Towcester 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Nov beating Pocket Too (10-12) by 2 1/2l, 17 ran.
Stonethrower (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) Soon mid-division, closer in 6th 3 out, 4th next, kept on same pace without threatening under pressure from before last, 3rd of 20, 6l behind Pozyc (11-1) at Gowran Park 2m 4f mdn hdl in Apr.
Salpierre (IRE) 9-4fav (11-9) Held up towards rear, good headway before 5th, chased leaders next, went 2nd going well after 3 out, edged slightly left before next, challenged and upsides last, led and slight peck soon after, soon clear, comfortably, won at Warwick 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs in Nov beating Tom O'Tara (11-8) by 3l, 14 ran.
Victors Serenade (IRE) 5-2 (11-11) Took keen hold in 5th, went 3rd 4th, ridden approaching 3 out, beaten when jumped left 2 out, one pace, 3rd of 6, 7l behind Kathleens Pride (11-2) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Nov.
Diktalina 25-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, hit 2nd, headway on outside 6th, outpaced 3 out, went 3rd 2 out, edged left after last, stayed on well towards finish, 3rd of 8, 3l behind Bellflower Boy (11-4) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Nov.
Double Eagle 10-1 (11-2) Towards rear, reminder after 5th, behind from 9th, 8th of 12, well behind Bobby Gee (11-0) at Towcester 2m 6f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Dec.
Tin Pot Man (IRE) 18-1 (9-7) Mid-division, headway before halfway, soon chasing leaders, led 2 out, soon strongly challenged, headed towards finish, no extra, 2nd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Harouet (10-6) at Ffos Las 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Nov.
Vin De Roy (FR) 50-1 (10-12) Raced wide towards rear, headway before 7th, ridden after 4 out, weakened soon after, tailed off, 9th of 17, 36l behind Habbie Simpson (11-5) at Warwick 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Willandrich (IRE) 7-1 (11-4) Held up in touch in 5th, ridden after 2 out, no impression, 5th of 10, 14l behind Scotsbrook Cloud (11-3) at Haydock 3m cond hcp hdl 0-1115 (4) gd in Nov.
Graduation Night 80-1 (11-5) Mid-division, pushed along 3 out, headway under pressure after next, kept on, never troubled leaders, 4th of 13, 20l behind Extremely So (10-12) at Folkestone 2m 1f nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Cypress Grove (IRE) 66-1 (10-3) Mid-division, never dangerous, 9th of 18, 26l behind Requin (10-2) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Dec.
Jump Up 2-1fav (11-0) Led, ridden and headed after 7th, no impression and 10 lenghts down 2 out, closed under pressure flat, always held, rider had tack problems towards finish, 2nd of 4, 4l behind Silver Token (10-7) at Ffos Las 2m 4f NH mdn hdl (4) gf in Oct.
Knight Woodsman 14-1 (11-5) Mid-division, headway after 5th, led 9th, headed before 3 out, soon beaten, 4th of 12, 24l behind Bellflower Boy (11-4) at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Nov.
