raced keenly, chased leaders, pushed along out wide before 2 out, plugged on in 3rd run-in
held up off the pace in last pair, driven along in 8th home turn, soon beaten
raced widest, chased leaders, weakened home turn
raced on inside, towards rear of mid-division, in mid-division when flattened 3 out, never involved
held up off the pace towards rear, headway chasing leaders after 3 out, pushed along turning in, weakened before 2 out
chased leaders, pushed along and weakened before 3 out, tailed off
soon tracking leaders on inside, went 2nd between last two, challenged and every chance when bumped and carried right run-in, found no extra inside final 100 yards
held up in rear, mistake 1st, fell next
never closer than mid-division
off the pace and always towards rear, never a factor
held up off the pace towards rear, closer in mid-division 6th, tracked leaders going well 4 out, went 2nd turning in, led before hit 2 out, joined when bumped and carried 2nd right run-in, stayed on to assert inside final 100 yards
chased leader until pushed along turning in, chased leaders, weakened run-in
behind most of way, some late minor headway
raced out wide in mid-division, pushed along before 3 out, kept on run-in
made most until pushed along and headed before 2 out, lost 2nd between last two, weakened run-in
A few of these would have preferred better going. That list includes Paddys Motorbike, Royaume Uni, Theatre Glory, Whatsupwithyou and Guernesey with the latter finishing behind Bourbali on the same terms at Cheltenham last month. Jay Bee Why will strip fitter for a comeback fourth here, however, and recent Lingfield winner Optimise Prime will handle any give in the ground. New Found Fame and the equally-unexposed Ivaldi make their handicap debuts but so does GREY DAWNING, who has run just four times under Rules. He has won three times and his victory at Exeter was franked last week by the runner-up.
Theatre Glory (IRE) 4-1 (11-5) Held up in 5th, bad mistake and unseated rider 4th, at Newbury 2m hcp (1) gd in Nov.
Paddys Motorbike (IRE) 10-3fav (11-12) Made all, went clear after 5th, reduced lead after 4 out, good jump to assert last, stayed on gamely run-in, won at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in May beating Captain Morgs (11-11) by 1l, 11 ran.
Press Your Luck (IRE) 22-1 (11-12) Well off the pace in last pair, rapid headway out wide chasing leaders 7th, weakened just as rapidly after next, behind soon after, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out, at Newbury 3m hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Royaume Uni (IRE) 9-2 (11-13) Towards rear, headway to chase leader 3 out, ridden in 3rd before 2 out, not fluent last, kept on and took 2nd run-in, 2nd of 6, 9 1/2l behind Lord Baddesley (11-6) at Plumpton 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Jay Bee Why (IRE) 7-2 (10-8) Held up in touch towards rear on inside, switched left before 2 out, lost 3rd last, no extra flat, 4th of 7, 16 3/4l behind Call Me Lord (11-2) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Optimise Prime (IRE) 7-1 (11-13) Held up, headway before 3 out, chased leader after 3 out, ridden to lead 2 out, went further clear after last, won at Lingfield 2m 3f hcp (3) sft in Nov beating Branson Missouri (11-4) by 8l, 10 ran.
Bourbali (FR) 16-1 (11-6) Prominent in chasing group, went moderate 3rd bypassing the last, 3rd of 10, 11 1/2l behind Unanswered (10-5) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Ivaldi (FR) 10-1 (11-4) Held up, went 2nd going well 3 out, pressed leader 2 out when not fluent, ridden to lead from last, headed final 100 yards, no extra, 2nd of 3, 1/2l behind Scarface (11-5) at Ascot 2m 6f (2) gd in Nov.
Guernesey (FR) 14-1 (11-3) Held up and off the pace, pushed along out wide and no impression when flattened the last (normal 2 out) stayed on again extended run-in, never going pace to reach leaders, 4th of 10, 16 1/4l behind Unanswered (10-5) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Vorashann (FR) 8-1 (11-8) Chased leader, pushed along and weakened rapidly before 2 out, 7th of 9, 27l behind Halo Des Obeaux (11-12) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Nov.
Grey Dawning (IRE) 1-2fav (11-0) Chased leaders, headway to dispute lead 3 out, sustained duel with runner-up, led narrowly last, edged right run-in and kept on well, always doing enough, won at Exeter 2m 1f (4) gs in Dec beating Lallygag (11-10) by 1 1/4l, 17 ran.
The Bomber Liston (IRE) 14-1 (10-8) Tracked leader, slight mistake 2nd, 3rd on inner halfway, not fluent 4 out and lost place, 7th and pushed along entering straight, ridden and no impression before last, kept on one pace, 8th of 25, 10 1/2l behind A Great View (10-9) at Punchestown 3m hcp Good - Yielding in Apr.
New Found Fame (IRE) 9-2 (11-7) Held up in mid-division, headway 2 out, went 2nd flat, stayed on, no impression on winner, 2nd of 13, 12l behind Theatre Man (11-0) at Hereford 2m 4f (4) sft in Nov.
Whatsupwithyou (IRE) 7-2 (11-12) Towards rear, ridden before 2 out, mistake last, no extra thereafter, 4th of 6, 18 1/2l behind Sayadam (12-0) at Fontwell 2m 3f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Storm Dennis (IRE) 13-8fav (11-10) Close up, ridden 2 out, weakened next, last of 5, 19 3/4l behind Shetland Bus (11-6) at Stratford 2m 7f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
