held up, headway to chase leaders 3 out, chased winner before 2 out, weakened between last 2
held up in mid-division, headway to chase leaders before 5th, led soon after 3 out, clear before last, ridden out, run-in
took keen hold, chased leader, hit 2nd, challenged 3 out, weakened and hit next
pulled very hard, and unruly in rear, tailed off when fell 5th
held up towards rear, headway after 3 out, chased leaders next, went 2nd after 2 out, no chance with winner and lost 2nd, run-in
chased leaders until ridden and weakened after 3 out
held up in rear, nudged along before 2 out, never in race, tailed off
led, clear 4th, reduced lead when blundered next, headed 3 out, weakened quickly before next, tailed off
in touch, hit 3 out, weakened under pressure before next
chased leaders, ridden approaching 2 out, weakened soon after
in touch, ridden and weakened before 5th, struggling in rear when hit 3 out, tailed off
mid-division, headway under pressure after 3 out, driven to chase leaders 2 out, disputing 2nd last, took 2nd run-in, but no chance with winner
Michael Flips may still be tired from the Olympics and he needs to improve his jumping, whilst Font is classy but he has a lot of weight; narrow preference is for STAR OF ANGELS despite the worry over the stables form. David Pipe's gelding was fairly well-held last time but it was in a Grade One at Aintree behind Binocular. That form is rock solid after the weekend and fifth in the triumph hurdle at the festival, he could make good use of the weight he gets from the other main protagonists. Font was second last time to Alfie Flits at Haydock in November but his Cheltenham win in October is starting to be picked apart and he was subsequently well-held behind Sentry Duty at Ascot. Peintre Du Roi could be interesting if supported in the betting; he only had two starts on the level in France and is a real unknown. We know more about Show Winner (improved greatly to win last time at the track), Wester Ross (classy on flat and from a respected yard) and Hot Diamond (consistent if frustrating and form of defeat to Thundering Star let down slightly since). We know less about Yab Adee who is a rare Marcus Tregoning jumps runner; rated in the 60's on the flat, he was impressive when winning a poor maiden last time. An interesting opener, with the vote given to Star Of Angels.
Font 7-4fav (11-8) Held up in rear, headway approaching 2 out, chased winner after last, kept on, no impression, 2nd of 5, 4 1/2l behind Alfie Flits (11-0) at Haydock 2m lst nov hdl (1) gs in Nov.
Micheal Flips (IRE) 5-4fav (11-5) Mid-division, jumped left 3rd, headway 5th, every chance when blundered 2 out, one pace, 2nd of 18, 2l behind Show Winner (10-7) at Kempton 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Show Winner 10-1 (10-7) Tracked leader, led after 3 out, ran on well, won at Kempton 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Nov beating Micheal Flips (11-5) by 2l, 18 ran.
Dalmatian 8-1 (11-2) In touch, ridden to chase leaders 5f out, faded over 1f out, 4th of 11, 8l behind Balthazar King (11-2) at Plumpton 2m 2f mdn nhf (6) gs in Nov.
Funky Town (IRE) 2-1fav (11-3) Led, headed over 2f out, soon ridden, weakened final furlong, 5th of 13, 12l behind Breaking Storm (11-0) at Sedgefield 2m 1f mdn nhf (6) gf in Jun '07.
Hot Diamond 14-1 (10-6) Mistake 3 out, always behind, 9th of 14, 22l behind Helens Vision (10-7) at Newbury 2m lst hcp hdl (1) gs in Nov.
Master Charm (FR) 9-1 (10-12) Prominent, led approaching 2 out, soon ridden, headed last, no extra and lost 2nd run-in, 3rd of 17, 4 1/2l behind Somersby (10-12) at Kempton 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Nov.
Novikov 10-1 (9-2) Made virtually all, ridden over 2f out, joined well over 1f out, stayed on gamely towards finish, won at Yarmouth 1m 2f hcap (3) gd in Sept beating Dark Prospect (8-4) by a hd, 11 ran (Flat).
Peintre Du Roi (USA) (8-9) Never better than mid-division, 6th of 8, 13l behind Observateur (9-0) at Clairefontaine 1m 3f Cond Stakes sft in Oct '07 (Flat).
Simply Blue 16-1 (11-0) Chased leader to 2f out, soon beaten, 8th of 16, 25l behind Copper Bleu (11-0) at Newbury 2m nh mdn hdl (3) gs in Nov.
Star Of Angels 20-1 (11-0) Mid-division, hit 2nd, headway 4th, weakened under pressure 3 out, left moderate 4th last, 4th of 10, 37l behind Binocular (11-0) at Aintree 2m nov hdl Grd 1 (1) gs in Apr.
Wester Ross (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Raced keenly, chased leaders, led 3 out, ridden and headed flat, unable to quicken, 2nd of 14, 1l behind Levera (11-4) at Huntingdon 2m nov hdl (3) gd in Oct.
Yab Adee 11-10fav (9-9) Tracked leader on outside, ridden to lead over 2f out, soon well clear, pushed out easily, won at Kempton 1m 4f mdn aut stk (6) pol in Nov beating Dontpaytheferryman (9-3) by 5l, 10 ran (Flat).
Fairyland (GER) 13-8fav (11-1) Mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, every chance when not fluent last, not quick in run-in, 2nd of 11, 1 1/2l behind My Moment (11-8) at Aintree 2m mdn hdl (4) gs in Nov.
