pressed leader, jumped left and led 7th, headed 2 out, soon one pace, left 3rd before last
held up in rear, ridden and struggling after 3 out, tailed off
prominent until after 1st, held up in touch in mid-division, closed 7th, every chance 3 out, 3rd and ridden when pulled up on bend before last
led, not fluent 6th, headed and not fluent next, soon weakened, last 3 out, tailed off
in touch in mid-division and raced wide, closed after 6th, every chance 3 out, hit next, soon beaten
mid-division, closed 7th, ridden and losing place when hit 2 out, soon weakened, tailed off
mid-division, headway on inside approaching 7th, ridden and one pace after 2 out, left disputing 3rd before last
tracked leaders, every chance 3 out, weakened next, tailed off
prominent, challenged 3 out, led next, soon headed, no impression on winner before last, stayed on same pace
held up in rear, hit 4th, headway from 3 out, challenged after next, soon led, clear before last, stayed on well
Gassin Golf is only 1-23 over hurdles but came up a potentially smart performer at Sandown 10 days ago. He’s very well treated at present so it would be no surprise to see Kerry Lee’s nine-year-old double his tally, though CARLOS DU FRUITIER is much less exposed. Ben Pauling’s charge was making headway last time at Doncaster when coming to grief and can recoup losses. Trans Express is back in form but has only ever won at Exeter but Castafiore’s Doncaster win has been franked. Jockey bookings would suggest Away For Slates is preferred to Applesandpierres and he looks best of the rest with Otter Moon not having raced since landing a Perth maiden last July and unproven on the ground.
Seymour Star 33-1 (11-12) Prominent on inside, lost place 6th, behind and struggling 4 out, tailed off, 13th of 16, dist behind Coole Cody (11-11) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Applesandpierres (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Towards rear, flattened 6th, mistake 8th, ridden and headway to press leaders 2 out (usual 3 out), soon weakened, 5th of 10, 21l behind Only Orsenfoolsies (11-3) at Wetherby 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Carlos Du Fruitier (FR) 3-1fav (10-13) Tracked leaders, driven 4 out, headway into 3rd when fell next, at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Dec.
Dubawi Island (FR) 12-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, pushed along before 3 out, soon weakened, 7th of 8, dist behind Buckhorn Timothy (11-12) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Otter Moon 11-4 (11-0) Tracked leaders, 2nd before 4 out, led 2 out, stayed on well flat, readily, won at Perth 2m 4f mdn (4) gd in Jul beating Loud And Clear (11-0) by 3 3/4l, 12 ran.
Away For Slates (IRE) 3-1 (11-5) Held up in rear on outside, took keen hold, stumbled 1st, mistake 5th, headway 4 out, ridden and one pace after 2 out, weakened flat, 6th of 7, 15 3/4l behind Eminent Poet (11-12) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Gassin Golf 7-1 (10-5) Held up in mid-division, smooth headway before 2 out 3rd and one pace between last 2, 3rd of 10, 6 1/4l behind Call Me Lord (11-12) at Sandown 2m hcp (2) hvy in Jan.
Trans Express (IRE) 7-2 (10-7) Chased leaders, 2nd after 4 out, led before next, clear 2 out, ridden before last, driven out, won at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (3) sft in Dec beating Night Of Sin (11-10) by 1 3/4l, 10 ran.
Castafiore (USA) 7-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, ridden before 3 out, led 2 out, kept on towards finish, driven out, won at Doncaster 2m 1f hcp (4) gd in Dec beating Gran Maestro (10-11) by hd, 13 ran.
Cougar Kid (IRE) 20-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, headway on outside when mistake 3 out, 3rd 2 out, no extra flat, 5th of 9, 5 1/2l behind Tailor Tom (11-4) at Bangor 2m 7f hcp (4) hvy in Jan.
