not fluent and jumped left at times, close up, tracked winner 8th until ridden 2 out, lost 2nd approaching last
held up, went 4th at 9th, ridden and no impression 3 out, weakened next, blundered last, tailed off
made all, clear when not fluent 2 out and last, unchallenged
tracked winner until 8th, tracked leaders, ridden to chase winner 2 out, kept on same pace
tracked leaders, slow 8th, stumbled badly on landing next and dropped to last , ridden and slow 13th, tailed off 3 out
OPECHEE seems best at Stratford but has been placed on other tracks. he’s enjoyed mixed fortunes since winning in August but has been dropped another couple of pounds since his latest second at Sedgefield. Strong Resemblance has yet to place over fences but won off a 4lb higher mark over hurdles here nine days ago so has to go on the short-list. Sergeant Brody remains out of sorts so course winner Midnight Gem is preferred of the others ahead of Robin Deuz Pois.
Sergeant Brody 20-1 (10-10) Mid-division, struggling 12th, mistake next, pulled up before 15th, at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Opechee (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) Held up off the pace in last, headway from 11th, left 4th next, went 2nd off last bend, no impression on winner, 2nd of 6, 11l behind One Forty Seven (11-10) at Stratford 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Strong Resemblance (IRE) 2-1fav (11-8) Led until mistake and headed 3rd, tracked leader, led again 3 out, joined last, ridden and stayed on to assert last 100 yards, won at Huntingdon 3m 1f hcp (4) gd in Nov beating Tir Dubh (10-0) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Robin Deuz Pois (IRE) 8-1 (10-12) Prominent, ridden after 3 out, no impression in 4th from next, 4th of 12, 14 3/4l behind Hepijeu (11-11) at Huntingdon 3m 1f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Midnight Gem 13-2 (10-12) Tracked leaders, blundered 5 out, pushed along in 4th soon after, ridden after next, kept on same pace, never on terms, 4th of 6, 13 3/4l behind Whin Park (11-11) at Ludlow 3m hcp (4) gd in Oct.
