pressed leader, led before 10th, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, soon 4th and well beaten
mid-division, headway after 7th, outpaced 4 out, 5th and well beaten after next
held up, headway 4 out, challenged 2 out, soon led, asserting when blundered last, drew clear flat, comfortably
chased leaders, not fluent 3rd, lost place 6th, rallied and went 2nd 12th, led before 2 out, sprawled badly on landing 2 out and headed, beaten after, one pace
led, not fluent 3rd, headed before 10th, lost place 12th, pulled up after 3 out
in rear, jumped left and not fluent, mistake 2nd, behind 9th, pulled up before next
chased leaders, ridden before 11th, lost place when mistake 4 out, soon behind
reluctant to race and slowly away, in touch 6th, not fluent 12th, outpaced after 3 out, 3rd and well held 2 out
held up in mid-division, reminder 7th, behind 9th, pulled up before next
A tightly-knit affair with just 8lb covering the entire field. Artifice Sivola's consistency has taken him to the head of the weights but there is a suspicion that he's better suited to 2m, whilst Special Agent has had a good break since disappointing on chasing debut and the market should prove a useful guide as to his chances here. The Clock Leary is gradually finding form this term and commands respect but a chance is taken with the senior member of the field in bottomweight SONOFAGUN. He battled on stoutly to oblige here last time, his yard is in sparkling touch and he has less question marks against him than many of these, Note Mountain Tunes in the market as the O'Neill yard returns to action.
Artifice Sivola (FR) 7-2jfav (11-11) Chased leaders, headway before 2 out, went modest 3rd and ridden flat, kept on, no impression with front pair, 3rd of 10, 13 1/4l behind Vision Des Champs (11-0) at Sandown 2m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Dusky Lark 9-2 (11-1) Blundered 1st, towards rear, never involved, pulled up before 10th, at Ascot 2m 1f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Cadoudoff (FR) 12-1 (11-11) Held up, steady headway tracking leaders approaching 10th, pushed along before 14th, plugged on run-in, 4th of 9, 13 1/4l behind Baby Shine (11-11) at Lingfield 2m 7f hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Special Agent 14-1 (10-12) Prominent, jumped right 2nd, every chance 4 out, not fluent and one pace 3 out, weakened before next, 8th of 12, dist behind Spookydooky (11-7) at Newbury 2m 6f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
The Clock Leary (IRE) 4-1 (11-1) With leader, led after 1st, strongly challenged approaching 3 out, headed before next, weakened last, 3rd of 6, 19 1/2l behind Un Beau Roman (11-7) at Kempton 2m 2f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Mountain Tunes (IRE) 16-1 (11-8) Behind, hampered 11th, headway next, chased leaders 5 out, weakened 2 out, 6th of 14, dist behind Imagine The Chat (10-12) at Newbury 2m 6f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Denali Highway (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) Led 1st, soon headed, prominent, led again 10th, headed before 12th, 3rd and one pace after 3 out, no chance with winner when blundered last, 3rd of 12, 21l behind Cyclop (10-13) at Warwick 3m hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Mr Muddle 16-1 (11-2) Prominent, bumped 2nd, led after 6th, headed 10th, not fluent 4 out, soon ridden, no impression on winner before 2 out where jumped left, went 2nd and plugged on from last, 2nd of 9, 17l behind Bishops Road (11-12) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Jan.
Sonofagun (FR) 9-4fav (11-12) Tracked leader, not fluent 5th, not fluent and jumped left from 8th, clear before 2 out, went badly left last, stayed on well, won at Huntingdon 2m hcp (4) sft in Dec beating Safari Journey (11-9) by 9l, 6 ran.