took keen hold, held up in rear, reminders and closed after 6th, weakened 2 out
led until after 1st, prominent, not fluent and rider lost iron briefly next, ridden 3 out, weakened after next
tracked leaders, jumped left 3rd, ridden after 6th, weakened after 2 out
made virtually all, not fluent 7th, driven out
tracked leaders, went 2nd 3rd, ridden approaching last, closed flat, always just held
in rear, not fluent 3rd or 4th, jumped slowly 5th, soon lost touch, tailed off
TESHALI scored on good going at Taunton in March and has been restricted to fast ground subsequently. He won again around this trip at Uttoxeter in September and, with David Pipe trying him in blinkers, he has enough in reserve on official ratings to take this. Erdeli dropped into plating company for the first time at Stratford last month and scrambled to victory. This looks a bit tougher and his stablemate Khorun has been running so poorly that even Richard Johnson's presence in the saddle probably won't be enough. Dark Energy looks the main danger as he's well at home in this sort of grade and has been running well enough to give the likely favourite some problems.
Dark Energy 25-1 (10-0) Held up towards rear, not fluent 3rd, struggling 7th, tailed off, 11th of 13, well behind Ixora (11-1) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-140 (3) gf in Oct.
Erdeli (IRE) 13-8fav (11-5) Tracked leaders, went 2nd approaching 2 out, challenged last, led towards finish, won at Stratford 2m 3f cnd/am sll hdl (5) gd in Oct beating Flowerbud (10-2) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Teshali (IRE) 15-2 (11-5) Tracked leader until before 4th, chased leaders until weakened before 2 out, 4th of 8, 18l behind Grandads Horse (11-5) at Stratford 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gf in Oct.
Khorun (GER) 3-1 (11-4) Held up mid-division, mistake 5th, headway approaching 7th, led soon after, headed after 2 out, soon weakened, jumped left and blundered last, 4th of 9, 42l behind Ockey De Neulliac (10-2) at Hexham 2m 4f sell hdl (5) sft.
Dot's Delight 33-1 (10-4) Tracked leaders, ridden 6th, dropped to rear next, weakened 3 out, last of 6, 40l behind Mauritino (11-13) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in Oct.
Exotic Dream (FR) 100-1 (10-5) Held up towards rear, well beaten approaching 3 out, tailed off, last of 15, well behind Combustible Lady (10-10) at Worcester 2m mrs nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
