led until after 1st, remained prominent, led again after 7th, hung left approaching last, all out
held up, headway 3 out, soon chasing leaders, stayed on same pace from 2 out
tracked leaders, keen hold, not fluent 2nd, driven to challenge approaching 3 out, soon weakened
held up, headway 4 out, weakened before 2 out
held up in touch, chased leaders 3 out, weakened quickly before next, soon pulled up
led after 1st, mistake and rider lost iron 6th, headed after next, every chance and not fluent 2 out, stayed on well flat
always behind, tailed off before 8th
Adare Prince gets the confident vote over Elgar and Dalriath. The selection was a fair fourth behind Mount Benger last time out and that form reads well in the context of this race. If he runs up to his best he should be hard to beat with conditions very much in his favour. Elgar has been in good form of late but just gave the impression that the handicapper had caught up with him last time whe he finished third behind Better Moment and he looks worth taking on today. Dalriath is taking a massive drop in class having been third in a grade 2 last time behind My Way de Solzen, but he was well beaten that day and he looks to have a little to find to beat our selection. Salinas may prove best of the remainder but his best form is over further. Adare Prince has plenty in his favour and is taken to land the spoils.
Elgar 16-1 (11-7) Held up, headway 8th, ridden after 4 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 14, 8l behind Better Moment (11-1) at Taunton 2m 3f cnd hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Dec.
Salinas (GER) 4-1 (11-11) In rear, blundered 9th, soon beaten, 5th of 10, 22l behind Ground Breaker (11-1) at Huntingdon 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Dec.
Mr Bigglesworth (NZ) 28-1 (10-12) Mid-division, ridden 7th, weakened 3 out, 10th of 16, 32l behind Ellway Prospect (11-0) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Nov.
Buttress 7-1 (11-7) Always behind, 6th of 8, 35l behind Gipsy Cricketer (9-11) at Ludlow 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf in Oct.
Adare Prince (IRE) 11-2 (11-1) Chased leaders, ridden 3 out, stayed on same pace approaching last, 4th of 16, 6l behind Mount Benger (10-9) at Hereford 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Dec.
Dalriath 50-1 (10-11) Mistake in rear, went poor 3rd approaching 2 out, 3rd of 5, 43l behind My Way de Solzen (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov chs Grd 2 (1) hvy.
Pauntley Gofa 25-1 (11-0) Led, ridden and headed 6th, weakened 8th, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Elgar (11-6) at Huntingdon 2m cnd hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Dec, 7 ran.
