led and soon clear, reduced lead 7th, reached for 12th, headed next, lost 2nd 14th, weakened quickly next, tailed off, pulled up before 3 out
prominent in chasing group, went 3rd and hit 14th, weakened before 3 out
held up well in rear, plugged on from after 3 out, never on terms
soon towards rear, mistake 12th, never on terms
prominent in chasing group, chased clear leader 3rd, went left 6th, closer at next, led 13th, clear after 4 out until 2 out, driven between last 2, headed and no extra run-in, lost 2nd towards finish
chased leaders until mistake 1st, off the pace in mid-division, headway 8th, chased leaders 10th, ridden in 3rd before 3 out, weakened run-in
chased clear leader until 3rd, chased leaders, weakened 10th, behind and struggling next, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
off the pace in mid-division, headway 8th, weakened before 3 out
held up towards rear, headway on outside 12th, chased leaders 4 out, mistake 2 out, went 2nd towards finish and closed, strong challenge last strides, just held
mid-division, headway 8th, chased leaders 10th, chased clear leader 14th, pushed along before 3 out, closer next, challenged last, ridden to lead run-in, stayed on gamely, all out
off the pace in mid-division, lost place 8th, never on terms after
NonRunner
Just A Sting looked to be back on song when fourth at Wincanton. Sametegal found only one too good when returning from an absence at Newbury, when Highway One O One finished fourth, while there was a lot to like about Deauville Dancer’s second at Exeter and he’s another who will strip fitter here. BELAMI DES PICTONS was an eye-catcher in the BetVictor Gold Cup at Cheltenham when finding 2m4f an insufficient test of stamina. If he’s back to his best, a mark of 145 could be generous. Quarenta won over further at Fontwell and may not enjoy this sharp track.
Speredek (FR) 7-1 (11-3) Prominent, led 5 out, headed after 3 out, weakened next, 7th of 10, 32l behind Capeland (10-13) at Ascot 2m 1f hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Belami Des Pictons (FR) 10-1 (11-6) Hampered 2nd, in rear, headway under pressure on long run before 2 out, stayed on to take 4th near finish, never nearer, 4th of 17, 15 1/4l behind Happy Diva (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (1) sft in Nov.
Cobra De Mai (FR) 33-1 (11-10) In touch, lost place after 12th, behind from next, tailed off when pulled up 4 out, at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Bigmartre (FR) 25-1 (11-12) Led until 8th, led 12th, lost place before 4 out, 6th of 10, 24 1/4l behind Riders Onthe Storm (11-5) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Highway One O One (IRE) 10-1 (11-11) Always prominent, went 2nd before 4 out until ridden and approaching 2 out, chased leading pair until hit last, kept on same pace run-in, 4th of 16, 11l behind Bennys King (11-1) at Newbury 2m 6f hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Sametegal (FR) 7-1 (11-4) Mid-division, steady headway 10th, chased leaders next, went 2nd approaching 2 out, ridden and stayed on same pace run-in, 2nd of 16, 6l behind Bennys King (11-1) at Newbury 2m 6f hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Princeton Royale (IRE) 33-1 (12-5) Made most to before 4 out, soon lost place, behind from next, weakened 2 out, 6th of 7, 32 3/4l behind Espoir De Guye (10-12) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Deauville Dancer (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, effort before 3 out, ridden after next, one pace before last, stayed to snatch 2nd post, no impression with winner, 2nd of 7, 3 3/4l behind Espoir De Guye (10-12) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Quarenta (FR) 5-4fav (11-1) Left in 2nd place 1st, hit 14th, nudged along approaching 3 out, challenged on inside last, pushed into lead run-in, readily, won at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp (3) sft in Dec beating Diplomate Sivola (11-0) by 7l, 3 ran.
Just A Sting (IRE) 5-1cfav (10-7) Raced keenly, wide in mid-division, headway chasing leaders after 17th, chance when hit 3 out, weakened, 4th of 13, 7l behind Give Me A Copper (11-1) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp lst (1) gs in Nov.
Vivas (FR) 16-1 (11-12) Always towards rear, reminders and struggling after 8th, hit 4 out, plugged on, 5th of 10, 21l behind Generous Day (11-3) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Fingerontheswitch (IRE) 20-1 (11-8) Held up in rear, headway 5 out, chased leaders next, stayed on into 2nd, no chance with winner, 2nd of 15, 4l behind Copperhead (11-12) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in Dec.
