tracked leaders, mistake and lost place 11th, struggling from next, well behind after 4 out
pressed winner until 13th, blundered next, weakened after 4 out
held up in rear, mistake 1st, not much room 11th, headway on outside next, went 2nd 14th, held from before last, stayed on
mid-division, mistake 1st, headway after 6th, hampered and mistake next, struggling before mistake 4 out, remote 6th when blundered and unseated rider 3 out
in rear, not always fluent and not travel that well, well behind 14th
tracked leaders, not fluent 9th, ridden after 12th, 6th and one pace when terrible mistake 4 out, soon pulled up
mid-division, jumped slowly and lost place 2nd, struggling 12th
mid-division, headway on inside 13th, 3rd after 4 out, one pace 3 out, weakened last
made all, ridden and asserted before last, stayed on well
mid-division, headway on inside 6th, went 2nd 13th until next, 4th and one pace before 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
non runner
non runner
Things haven't gone to plan for a few of these this season but everything fell into place for Silvergrove at Newbury last time while Tinker Time took advantage of a tumbling mark to score at Ludlow, though has been raised 9lb again since. Shuil Royale was in good form around this time last year and is eased in grade but so is NED STARK. Alan King's eight-year-old was sent off joint favourite for a competitive handicap over track and trip over Christmas but was badly hampered at the first and appeared to lose interest after that. He'd run well for a long way earlier in the Hennessy and deserves another chance. Standing Ovation, Financial Climate and A Good Skin are also worth a second look as this could turn into a stamina test on the ground.
Shuil Royale (IRE) 8-1 (10-6) Held up in rear, mistake 8th, struggling from 17th, 5th of 8, dist behind Aachen (10-0) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Ned Stark (IRE) 9-2jfav (11-4) Mid-division, badly hampered and lost place 1st, not fluent next, never in contention, well beaten 14th, pulled up before last, at Kempton 3m hcp (2) gs in Dec.
A Good Skin (IRE) 6-1 (10-2) Held up in rear, mistake 9th, well beaten before 3 out, mistake 2 out, 9th of 11, 30 3/4l behind Village Vic (10-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) hvy in Jan.
Seebright 25-1 (11-8) Close up, hit 4th, ridden 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up last, at Kempton 2m 5f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Kilbree Kid (IRE) 50-1 (11-8) Always towards rear, pulled up before 8 out, at Cheltenham 3m 6f (2) gs in Dec.
Financial Climate (IRE) 12-1 (11-5) Tracked leader, pushed along after 11th, lost 2nd after 16th, stayed on same pace from after 2 out, mistake last, went 3rd close home, 3rd of 8, 19l behind Perfect Candidate (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp (2) hvy in Jan.
Tinker Time (IRE) 7-1 (11-5) Always handy, challenged 4 out, led 2 out, clear flat, comfortably, won at Ludlow 3m 2f hcp (3) sft in Dec beating Goodtoknow (11-4) by 7l, 10 ran.
Wizards Bridge 13-2 (11-8) Tracked leaders, mistake and lost place 7th, mistake and ridden next, behind from 9th, pulled up after 3 out, at Chepstow 3m hcp (3) hvy in Jan.
Silvergrove 5-2fav (11-7) Led to 3rd, tracked leader, led again narrowly 7th, made most after, driven 3 out, ridden and kept on under pressure flat, held on towards finish, won at Newbury 3m 2f hcp (3) sft in Dec beating Amidon (11-4) by 3/4l, 8 ran.
Sun Wild Life (FR) 8-1 (11-3) In rear, struggling 13th, tailed off and pulled up before next, at Fontwell 3m 1f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Doing Fine (IRE) 10-1 (10-11) Mid-division, mistake 6th, headway tracking leaders 10th, hit 14th, weakened 16th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out, at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp lst (1) sft in Nov.
Standing Ovation (IRE) 10-1 (11-10) Took keen hold, held up in last pair, steady headway 14th (water), went 3rd 2 out, kept on same pace and no chance with leading duo, 3rd of 8, 18l behind Forgotten Gold (11-2) at Wincanton 3m 3f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Audacious Plan (IRE) 10-1 (10-4) Not fluent in rear, reminders after 3rd, behind 18th, soon pulled up, at Cheltenham 3m 3f hcp (1) gs in Nov.
