tracked leader until 4th, lost place after 7th, 10th and well beaten 3 out
made all, blundered 3 out, strongly pressed from 2 out, untidy last, stayed on, just prevailed
held up in mid-division, ridden and weakened before 7th, pulled up before next
mid-division, headway 6th, ridden after next, 7th and struggling 3 out, soon weakened
held up in rear, ridden after 7th, 9th and well beaten 3 out
in rear, not fluent and behind 6th, pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, struggling after 5th, behind next, pulled up before 3 out
held up towards rear, pushed along briefly before 6th, headway after next, not fluent 2 out, strong challenge from 2 out, stayed on, just held
mid-division, headway after 7th, 4th 3 out, 3rd when blundered 2 out, no extra last
chased leaders, went 2nd 4th until after 3 out, weakened
mid-division, headway after 7th, 6th 3 out, went 3rd after 2 out, stayed on same pace and no impression on front pair
held up towards rear, driven along after 7th, 8th 3 out, well held by leaders before next
tracked leaders, pushed along before 6th, ridden after next, 5th 3 out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, headway after 6th, weakened next, pulled up before 3 out
Competitive stuff but DALIANCE was always controlling matters when scoring here latest with plenty in hand and is taken to handle a 9lb rise for that success as he still looks feasibly treated in this better contest. He is back up in trip now but has always gone well at this venue and should play a prominent role. Plenty of dangers abound all the same, notably Abricot De L'oasis who should relish the return to this trip and is expected to go close for the Skeltons. Handicap debutant Handsome Sam is also noted for Alan King, whilst Speed Demon, Rustamabad and Petrou are others worthy of consideration.
Speed Demon (IRE) 13-8fav (11-12) Led, mistake 5th, not fluent 5 out, ridden before last where pecked on landing and headed, kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 8, 5l behind Much Wants More (11-12) at Kilbeggan 3m 1f gd in Aug.
Abricot De L'Oasis (FR) 5-2jfav (11-10) Led, ridden and headed before 2 out, no impression on winner, one pace, 3rd of 6, 8 1/2l behind Sirop De Menthe (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Vif Argent (FR) Evensfav (11-0) Made all, shaken up before last, driven and stayed on flat, won at Worcester 2m 4f (5) gs in May beating Fuzzy Logic (11-0) by 1 3/4l, 7 ran.
Handsome Sam 7-2 (10-12) Tracked leaders, mistake 3 out, stayed on one pace from next, 4th of 14, 22 1/4l behind Hit The Highway (10-12) at Leicester 2m 4f (4) hvy in Dec.
Church Field (IRE) 12-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, ridden and beaten in 3rd 3 out, no extra from next, 5th of 6, 21 3/4l behind Arctic Gold (11-4) at Ludlow 3m hcp (3) hvy in Jan.
Pink Gin 16-1 (11-4) Chased leaders on inside, pushed along after 3 out, weakened before next, 6th of 13, dist behind Big Hands Harry (10-12) at Newbury 2m 5f (4) hvy in Feb.
Sandygate (IRE) 7-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, lost place 4 out, 9th of 11, 36 3/4l behind After Hours (10-13) at Haydock 2m hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Poker School (IRE) 9-2 (11-3) Chased leaders, joined leader 3rd, led 8th, headed after 5 out, soon weakened, blundered and unseated rider 3 out, at Ludlow 2m hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Kamool (GER) 17-2 (11-12) Mid-division, headway 6th, ridden after 3 out, outpaced by leaders before next, 5th of 10, 16 3/4l behind Calin Du Brizais (10-13) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Rustamabad (FR) 13-8 (11-0) Held up in touch, went 2nd after 3 out, jumped left 2 out, soon edged right, switched right before last, pressing winner at hurdle, held flat, 2nd of 6, 1l behind Fourth Act (11-0) at Wincanton 2m 5f mdn (5) gf in Oct.
Wintered Well (IRE) 8-1 (11-7) Mid-division, lost place 6th, headway on outside 3 out, effort and every chance next, one pace in 3rd when went left last, weakened flat, 7th of 11, 34 1/4l behind Divine Port (11-10) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp (4) hvy in Dec.
Drombeg West 20-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, headway from 6th, led before 2 out, edged right and not fluent last, hung left flat, headed towards finish, 2nd of 12, 1/2l behind Ballinalacken (11-5) at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Daliance (IRE) 4-1 (10-7) Held up in rear, headway on outside before 5th, went 2nd next, challenged 3 out, soon led, clear 2 out, eased final 100 yards, won at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Jan beating Argot (11-8) by 9l, 9 ran.
Fuhgeddaboudit 7-1 (11-1) Always behind, pulled up before 4 out, at Ffos Las 2m 4f mdn (4) sft in Mar.
Petrou (IRE) 17-2 (10-12) Tracked clear leader, pushed along 4 out, outpaced 3 out, rallied after next, stayed on well to go 2nd again after last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 8, 10l behind Ma du Fou (11-5) at Bangor 2m 1f (4) sft in Dec.
