close up, lost place 11th. outpaced from 4 out
held up in rear, blundered badly and unseated rider 12th
led to 12th, outpaced from 4 out
in touch, headway 13th, ridden after 4 out, kept on one paced from 2 out
soon in rear, no danger after halfway
in touch, headway 10th, led 3 out, soon ridden, headed last, kept on same pace
prominent, led 12th, mistake and headed 3 out, soon ridden, led again last, stayed on gamely
Most of these are likely to appear in the RSA Chase at Cheltenham in March so this warrants Grade 1 status. Red Indian beat No Hassle Hoff by 15 lengths at Ayr but Kelly Morgan’s charge faces a mammoth task in this company. La Bague Au Roi has won twice at Newbury and has a mares’ allowance in her favour again but she’ll need to take a further step forward. Bags Groove has won all three since returning from his summer break, including a Grade 2. He’s scored at Wincanton and Huntingdon so this track should suit while Topofthegame did remarkably well to get within four lengths of Defi Du Seuil at Exeter given he shied when the tapes rose and lost many lengths. The Worlds End comprehensively reversed Cheltenham running last time with Ibis De Rheu and beat a subsequent winner at Chepstow before that so is unlikely to be far away but SANTINI (NAP) was so impressive in beating subsequent Grade 2 winner Rocky’s Treasure at Newbury that he should take all the beating. The fourth in that race has won twice since to further frank the form.
Bags Groove (IRE) 6-4fav (11-12) Made all, jumped well, clear 2 out, comfortably, won at Huntingdon 3m (3) gs in Dec beating Thomas Campbell (11-7) by 9l, 7 ran.
No Hassle Hoff (IRE) 7-4fav (11-1) Mistake 1st, held up in touch in rear, tracked leaders 5 out, went 2nd after next, soon outpaced, no chance with winner before 2 out, 2nd of 5, 15l behind Red Indian (11-1) at Ayr 2m 5f (4) hvy in Nov.
Red Indian 7-2 (11-1) Tracked leaders, joined leader 11th, led next, driven clear before 2 out, stayed on well, comfortably, won at Ayr 2m 5f (4) hvy in Nov beating No Hassle Hoff (11-1) by 15l, 5 ran.
Santini 11-8fav (11-2) Held up in 5th on inside, closer tracking leaders 7th, mistake and lost place 11th, rallied into 3rd again before 4 out, 2nd travelling well 2 out, 1 length down and not fluent last, led run-in, stayed on, won at Newbury 2m 7f (1) sft in Dec beating Rocky's Treasure (11-2) by 4l, 7 ran.
The Worlds End (IRE) 7-4fav (11-6) Jumped well, led, clear 8th until after 11th, headed 14th, led 16th, clear from 3 out, comfortably, won at Cheltenham 3m 1f (2) gd in Dec beating Ibis Du Rheu (11-9) by 26l, 4 ran.
Topofthegame (IRE) 6-4jfav (11-0) Reluctant start and very slowly away, detached until joined main group 5th, headway 8th, chased leaders next, ridden to challenge 2 out, no extra closing stages, 2nd of 7, 3 1/2l behind Defi Du Seuil (11-0) at Exeter 2m 3f (2) sft in Dec.
La Bague Au Roi (FR) 5-4fav (10-8) Jumped well, made all, over 2 lengths ahead and going strongly when left clear 3 out, unchallenged, won at Newbury 2m 4f (1) gs in Nov beating Talkischeap (11-1) by 7l, 4 ran.
