prominent, led going well after 3 out, awkward last, ridden flat, headed final 100yds
pushed along in rear after 1st, pushed along after 3 out, weakened before 2 out
led, headed before 3rd, ridden along before 2 out, no extra approaching last
chased leaders, mistake 3 out, ridden along before 2 out, stayed on well to lead final 100yds
chased leaders, ridden after 5th, weakened after 3 out, pulled up before next
mid-division, lost place 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, no extra before 2 out
held up in mid-division, ridden along after 3 out, well held when mistake last
held up towards rear, tailed off from 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
raced keenly, led before 3rd, headed after 3 out, faded approaching last
chased leaders, pushed along and outpaced before 3 out, plugged on one pace from 2 out
Friend Or Foe only had one rival when scoring at Chepstow in April but made a promising reappearance there and may have found the ground too quick at Taunton. Dorking Boy has won a bumper and scored twice over hurdles but jumped very poorly when well beaten over fences at Ascot three weeks ago. Sorbet has been consistent enough but is 0-11 while Flint Hill has looked moderate in his three runs over timber. Be My Sea is better over further but ORCHESTRAL RAIN (NAP) followed his maiden victory at Ludlow with an impressive success over this track and trip and can complete a hat-trick with Lilly Pinchin's claim a major plus.
Friend Or Foe (FR) 11-4fav (11-8) Chased leaders, jumped right 4th, ridden to challenge 2 out, no extra approaching last, lost third flat, 4th of 8, 9 3/4l behind Rose To Fame (10-9) at Taunton 2m hcp (3) gf in Oct.
Dorking Boy 4-1jfav (10-9) Not always fluent towards rear, struggling 10th, soon behind tailed off, 7th of 8, dist behind Sully D'Oc Aa (10-8) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Oct.
Gateway To Europe 12-1 (11-2) Ran in snatches, prominent until jumped slowly and lost place 1st, outpaced and no chance from 12th, went remote 3rd run-in, 3rd of 6, dist behind Espoir De Romay (11-2) at Huntingdon 2m 4f (3) gd in Nov.
Xcitations 6-1 (11-9) Raced keenly, mid-division, headway after 6th, 3rd before 2 out, no extra and fading from last, 7th of 9, 14l behind College Oak (11-7) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp (4) gs in Oct.
Sovereign Duke (GER) 11-2 (11-0) Tracked leaders, went left and awkward 2nd, outpaced 3 out, left 3rd when no extra next, 3rd of 9, 37l behind Shantou Express (11-0) at Exeter 2m 1f mdn (4) gf in Oct.
Linger (IRE) 150-1 (11-10) Held up in touch, ridden and lost ground after 4th, weakened and tailed off 6th, pulled up before 7th, at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 4f hcp (4) hvy in Oct.
Sorbet 5-2fav (11-10) Chased leaders on outside, pushed along in 3rd before 2 out, went 2nd run-in, no chance with winner, 2nd of 13, 9l behind Kannapolis (11-10) at Warwick 2m hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Flint Hill 6-1 (10-12) Led, wandered into 2nd and 3rd, headed before 4th, mistake 6th, weakened before last, 3rd of 14, 15l behind On The Wild Side (10-12) at Hexham 2m (4) gs in Oct.
Be My Sea (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Mid-division on outside, headway chasing leaders before 4 out, weakened between last 2, 8th of 15, 25 1/4l behind St Barts (11-6) at Ascot 3m hcp (3) hvy in Feb.
Orchestral Rain (IRE) 2-1fav (11-4) Led, not fluent 2nd and 3rd, headed before 4th, in front again next, clear after 3 out, stayed on well, won at Huntingdon 2m (4) gd in Nov beating Fraterculus (10-12) by 10l, 8 ran.
Great Hall 9-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, closed before 3 out, not quicken 2 out, no impression on front pair, kept on, lost 3rd close home, 4th of 10, 14 1/4l behind Skylanna Breeze (11-5) at Fakenham 2m 7f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
