chased leaders, led 3 out, headed 2 out, lost 2nd last, kept on same pace in 3rd
chased leader until approaching 6th, chased leaders, outpaced approaching 3 out, rallied into modest 4th towards finish
mid-division, not fluent 5th, lost place and dropped towards rear next, rallied on outside approaching 3 out, chased leaders and chance next, went 2nd last, no chance with winner
chased leaders, weakened soon after 3 out
chased leaders, went 2nd approaching 6th, led 4 out, headed before next, weakened approaching 2 out
mid-division on inside, towards rear and struggling when fell 3 out
mid-division, headway chasing leaders approaching 3 out, ridden and weakened next
always towards rear, no chance when hampered 3 out
always towards rear
chased leaders, pushed along and weakening when mistake 3 out
held up towards rear, headway approaching 4 out, chased leaders approaching next, no impression when mistake last, weakened into 5th run-in
pulled hard, soon led, hit 6th, headed 4 out, lost 2nd before next, soon weakened and eased, pulled up before 2 out
towards rear, headway approaching 4 out, weakened before next, tailed off
behind, tailed off when mistake 5th, pulled up before 3 out
held up towards rear, good headway on outside chasing leaders before 5th, led going well 2 out, clear last, stayed on well, easily
First-time cheekpieces could encourage Robert's Star to rediscover his best form. Samson won at Stratford and Uttoxeter in the summer but has looked in the handicapper’s grip since and won’t relish conditions. KNOCKNAMONA (NAP) is a real mudlark and won off this mark over fences last time with the proverbial ton in hand. The under-used Alain Cawley again takes the ride and Micky Hammond’s six-year-old is the one to beat if transferring that form back to hurdles. Megabucks and Kincora Fort could also figure but Mahlerdramatic needs to step up on recent efforts. Western Wave turned in a shocker on his reappearance and may need another run to put him straight.
Megabucks (IRE) 6-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, driven before 2 out, kept on same pace, no impression before last, 5th of 11, 16 3/4l behind One For Billy (11-10) at Warwick 2m hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Robert's Star (IRE) 7-1 (10-8) Jumped right, led until before 2 out, soon weakened, 8th of 13, 16 1/2l behind Holly Bush Henry (11-4) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp (3) gd in Sep.
Western Wave (FR) 11-2 (11-8) Mid-division, outpaced 4 out, never near leaders, weakened 2 out, tailed off, 6th of 13, dist behind This Is It (11-13) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Bowie (IRE) 11-2 (11-4) Tracked leader to 6th, chased leaders, outpaced in 4th approaching 2 out, no impression after, 4th of 7, 7 1/4l behind Shrubland (10-9) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Gran Maestro (USA) 66-1 (10-13) In touch, led narrowly 2nd to 4th, soon pushed along, weakened before 3 out, 10th of 19, 24 1/2l behind Melrose Boy (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Ivanhoe 16-1 (9-1) Held up towards rear off steady pace, headway final furlong, no chance, 11th of 13, 4 3/4l behind Dovils Date (10-0) at Lingfield 2m hcp (5) pol in Oct.
Kincora Fort (IRE) 4-1 (11-0) Held up in rear but in touch, mistake 7th, effort 3 out, soon no impression, 4th of 8, 13l behind Ding Ding (11-0) at Plumpton 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Nov.
The Blue Bomber 16-1 (11-10) Held up off the pace in 5th, pushed along and weakened rapidly before 3 out, tailed off, last of 9, dist behind Magic Dancer (11-11) at Kempton 2m hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Samson 50-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, hit 4 out, outpaced 2 out, soon ridden, no impression after, 8th of 19, 20 1/2l behind Magic Dancer (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Mahlerdramatic (IRE) 6-1 (10-9) Tracked winner until ridden and weakened after 4 out, 5th of 8, 22 3/4l behind Aristo Du Plessis (11-10) at Wetherby 2m hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Primo Blue 25-1 (11-2) Held up in mid-division on inside, took keen hold, not fluent 8th, no impression, 9th of 12, 28 1/2l behind Tempuran (11-0) at Ludlow 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Maroc 5-2fav (11-0) Raced keenly, led, ridden a hung badly left from 2f out, headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 4th of 10, 4 1/2l behind Take Two (10-10) at Windsor 1m 3f hcp (5) gd in Aug.
Friendship Bay 12-1 (11-12) In touch in mid-division on outside, close up when blundered badly 3 out, 5th and no extra last, 6th of 13, 15 1/2l behind Market Road (10-10) at Warwick 2m 3f hcp (5) gs in May.
Chivers (IRE) 33-1 (11-7) Always towards rear, 9th of 13, dist behind Smart Boy (11-6) at Plumpton 2m 5f hcp (5) gs in Oct.
Knocknamona (IRE) 7-1 (10-4) Tracked leaders, ridden 11th, soon outpaced, went 2nd before 3 out, led before 2 out, clear before last, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (4) hvy in Nov beating Normandy King (11-4) by 14l, 8 ran.
