chased leader, hit 11th, left in lead 4 out, headed and mistake 2 out, driven and stayed on same pace run-in, looked held when squeezed up on rail final 100 yards
chased leaders on inside, left 3rd and hampered 4 out, no impression when mistake 2 out
held up in last pair on inside, headway 13th, left in 4th and slightly hampered 4 out, beaten when mistake 3 out
led until fell 4 out
raced wide, held up in 5th, reminders and weakened 12th, tailed off and pulled up before 14th
held up in last pair, closer tracking leaders on outside before 14th, left in 2nd next, going well 3 out, led next, 3 lengths ahead when not fluent last, reduced lead when hung right final 100 yards, stayed on
chased leaders, went left 1st, not fluent 10th, fell 12th
Danny Whizzbang is unbeaten under Rules but his surprise Newbury win probably shouldn’t be taken at face value and Harry Cobden gets off him to partner Master Tommytucker, who overcame an absence to score over a shorter trip here last month. Slate House fell when holding every chance in the BetVictor Gold Cup at Cheltenham last month but had to be ridden out to land the odds over this trip at Huntingdon subsequently. Jarveys Plate, like Danny Whizzbang, has beaten Reserve Tank this season but was very disappointing when last of four finished at Haydock later. BLACK OP couldn’t hold off Champ at Newbury but that was no disgrace and he’s yet to run a bad race over fences. Though possibly better going left-handed, he won’t go down without a fight here.
Black Op (IRE) 9-2 (11-1) Vying for lead when left in front 1st, went clear 8th until 5 out, joined and hit last, headed and not pace of winner run-in, 2nd of 6, 1 3/4l behind Champ (11-1) at Newbury 2m 4f (1) gs in Nov.
Danny Whizzbang (IRE) 9-2 (11-2) Jumped well, bit keen tracking leading pair, pushed along approaching 4 out, challenged next, led before 2 out, 2 lengths ahead last, stayed on strongly to go further clear run-in, won at Newbury 2m 7f (1) gs in Nov beating Reserve Tank (11-7) by 4l, 3 ran.
Jarveys Plate (IRE) 7-4fav (11-4) In touch on outside, joined leaders after 9th, led narrowly 4 out to next, soon ridden, kept on, weakened before last, 4th of 5, 18 1/2l behind Keeper Hill (11-8) at Haydock 2m 6f (2) gs in Nov.
Master Tommytucker 4-1 (11-2) Led, not fluent 3rd, went clear 6th, pecked 4 out, reduced lead next, narrowly headed 2 out, rallied gamely to lead again last, driven out, won at Kempton 2m 2f (4) gs in Nov beating Who Dares Wins (11-2) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Redzor (IRE) 14-1 (11-5) With leader, ridden and every chance turning in, one pace between last 2, no extra in 3rd flat, 3rd of 7, 5 1/4l behind Wholestone (11-5) at Cheltenham 3m (2) sft in Nov.
Slate House (IRE) 4-5fav (11-12) Held up, not fluent 13th, pushed along to close after 3 out, led 2 out, hard pressed flat, ridden out, won at Huntingdon 3m (3) gs in Dec beating Tarada (11-2) by 1/2l, 6 ran.
The Mighty Don (IRE) 14-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders until pushed along 5 out, soon beaten, last of 4, dist behind Angels Breath (11-1) at Ascot 2m 3f (3) sft in Nov.
