held up in rear, headway after 7th, soon chasing leaders, ridden to challenge after 2out, kept on
soon led, mistake 6th, soon headed, weakened before 3 out
held up in rear, mistake 6th, pushed along 4 out, soon beaten
in touch, headway 4 out, chased leader 2 out, soon ridden and one pace
tracked leaders, pushed along before 6th, wakened before 4 out
raced in rear, mistake 4th, soon struggling, headway approaching 2 out, stayed on well, never on terms
with leader, led after 6th, ridden 3 out, soon strongly challenged, held on gamely
One or two of these have already had racecourse experience this term so RED BIRR could be the answer to a tricky getting out stakes. Paul Webber's charge has been deemed to have improved by 15lb since placing on his reappearance and while his latest run was disappointing, it could have simply been a bad day at the office. Seamus Mullins' team are in good order so don't dismiss Bushwacker too lightly. Shinnecock Bay found disappointingly little at Fontwell when apparently with the race at his mercy. Woodlark Island is often well backed and is watched closely in the market. Tony McCoy replaces a 7lb claimer on Indiana Gold.
Cortinas (GER) 11-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 4 out until after 2 out, weakening in 5th when left 3rd last, 3rd of 7, 19l behind Blast The Past (11-3) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in Sep.
Bushwacker (IRE) 7-1 (11-9) Held up in 4th, not fluent 2nd, not fluent 5th (water), closed after 8th, mistake 3 out, weakening in 4th when left 2nd last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 17l behind Blast The Past (11-3) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in Sep.
Shinnecock Bay 3-1fav (11-11) Held up, mistake 2nd, not fluent next, went 3rd 8th, led after 2 out, mistake and headed last, held towards finish, 2nd of 6, 1 1/2l behind Courella (11-12) at Fontwell 2m 2f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Aug.
January 7-1 (11-9) Held up towards rear, not fluent 6th, headway approaching 6th, ridden 3 out, soon weakened, 8th of 11, 32l behind Olivino (10-13) at Stratford 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in Sep.
Indiana Gold (FR) 12-1 (11-0) Mid-division, headway 10th, hit next, weakened after 4 out, 5th of 10, 28l behind Courella (11-12) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Sep.
Red Birr (IRE) 4-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, mistake 6th, soon ridden, behind next, tailed off, last of 8, well behind Morning Sunshine (10-8) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd.
Woodlark Island (IRE) 10-3fav (10-11) Set good gallop, ridden after 3 out, headed next, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 8, 5l behind Morning Sunshine (10-8) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd.