in rear, struggling from 9th
led, hit 8th, headed 4 out, tracked leader, weakened before 2 out
in touch, mistake 6th, went 2nd 3 out, ridden and one pace from last
close up, hit 2nd, hit 6 out, led 4 out, kept on and headed towards finish
tracked leaders, not fluent 8th, hit 10th, ridden before last, kept on to lead towards finish
Nonrunner
Pickamus was just collared by the well-handicapped Lord Ryeford at Stratford on his reappearance and looks to have rediscovered some of his old dash. Barry Geraghty is sure to make plenty of use of him here but the grey is 4lb higher and has to give 7lb to the potentially more progressive MIDNIGHT APPEAL. Alan King's six-year-old looks set for another successful season judged on his comeback second at Sandown. Inside Dealer could appreciate the drop back in distance after his run over 3m at Exeter, but appears to hold Qianshan Leader on that run and makes more appeal than Gee Dee Nen and Panjo Bere at the weights.
Panjo Bere (FR) 16-1 (11-3) Soon towards rear, jumped slowly 5th, went left next, soon lost touch, tailed off, last of 9, well behind Anquetta (11-0) at Ascot 2m 1f listed hcp chs (1) gd in Oct.
Pickamus (FR) 12-1 (11-12) Led, clear approaching 6th until driven before last, no extra and headed close home, 2nd of 8, 1l behind Lord Ryeford (10-10) at Stratford 2m 5f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gf in Oct.
Midnight Appeal 5-1 (10-13) Held up in 6th and off the pace, closed upp after 6th, chased leading trio from 4 out, went 2nd when went left and mistake 2 out, stayed on same pace before last, 2nd of 9, 4l behind Roudoudou Ville (11-12) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp chs 0-140 (3) gs.
Inside Dealer (IRE) 14-1 (11-11) Tracked leaders, 4th and ridden after 13th, jumped right and went 2nd from 3 out, stayed on same pace, no chance with winner, 2nd of 15, 15l behind Fortification (11-3) at Exeter 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd.
Qianshan Leader (IRE) 20-1 (11-12) Prominent, ridden and outpaced by winner when faltered on bend before 3 out, soon lost 2nd, weakened after last, 4th of 15, 33l behind Fortification (11-3) at Exeter 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd.
Gee Dee Nen 25-1 (11-2) Towards rear, outpaced before 4 out, kept on after 2 out, blundered last, one pace, 4th of 9, 21l behind Quito Du Tresor (11-5) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd.
