chased leaders, took closer order 4 out, effort after next, weakened last
led, not fluent 4th, headed after 3 out, soon rallied, stayed on on strongly to lead again close home
held up, took keen hold, headway to chase leaders before 8th, led after 3 out, edged right under pressure after last, headed and no extra closing stages
held up towards rear, not fluent 2nd, mistake 8th, under pressure 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off
held up in rear, headway before 3 out, chased leaders next, kept on well after last, never a threat
chased leaders, hard driven before 3 out, weakening when mistake 2 out
prominent, pushed along approaching 4 out, weakened next, tailed off
held up when fell 5th
Several of these were placed on their latest starts but only LETEMGO (NAP) got anywhere near the respective winners. The latter was runner-up to the progressive Earls Fort at Plumpton having tumbled down the weights and can go one better in this. Bendomingo looks a bit stuck on his current mark but is usually in the mix while Cadeau George drops down a grade after a well-beaten third at Bangor on his recent reappearance. River Of Intrigue was still beaten a distance when placed at Kempton and the remainder arrive out of form.
River Of Intrigue (IRE) 11-2 (11-5) Held up in touch in last trio, steady headway 6th, modest 3rd on long run to 2 out, plugged on same pace, 3rd of 8, 29l behind Vinegar Hill (11-7) at Kempton 3m hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Cadeau George 6-1 (10-8) Tracked leaders, outpaced 4 out, ridden after 2 out, stayed to take modest 3rd after last, no chance with front pair, 3rd of 10, 15l behind Desert Cry (11-7) at Bangor 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Bendomingo (IRE) 9-4fav (11-6) Towards rear, headway before 4 out to chase leaders, went 2nd before 3 out until no extra towards finish, 3rd of 8, 11l behind Agincourt Reef (11-5) at Ludlow 2m 5f hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Monkhouse (IRE) 14-1 (11-8) Led, clear from 3rd until before 6th, clear again before next until 4 out, jumped right from 3 out, headed before 2 out, no extra last, 5th of 8, 21l behind Wolftrap (11-10) at Ludlow 2m 5f hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Letemgo (IRE) 8-1 (10-11) Tracked leader 2nd until approaching 5th, soon lost place, struggling in 5th before 9th, plenty to do at the last, ran on run-in, went 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 3 1/2l behind Earls Fort (10-13) at Plumpton 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Barenice (FR) 3-1 (10-0) In last pair, not fluent 8th, soon ridden, weakened after 4 out, last of 5, dist behind Cloudy Too (11-1) at Uttoxeter 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Damby's Star (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Led, ridden and headed between 7th/8th, soon outpaced and behind, kept on flat, last of 4, 23 1/2l behind Pilansberg (10-12) at Fakenham 2m 4f (4) gd in Oct.
American Life (FR) 10-1 (10-6) Led, mistake 7th, soon headed, weakened 3 out, 5th of 10, dist behind Black Ivory (11-2) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Nov.
