raced wide, chased leaders, ridden and outpaced 12th, rallied and chasing leaders when not much room and slightly hampered 3 out, weakened soon after next, modest 5th when hit last
chased leaders, led narrowly 12th until mistake and headed next, weakened and mistake 4 out, behind and pulled up before next
held up in last pair, headway 11th, chased laeders after 4 out, 3rd before next, chased winner 3 out, held when mistake next, no further impression
chased leaders, pushed along before 10th, ridden 13th, outpaced 4 out, stayed on again on inside before 3 out, 4th and one pace next
held up, headway on inside 8th, joined leaders 13th, went 2nd 4 out, dropped to 3rd when went left and hit next, stayed on same pace from 2 out
chased leader, led 3rd until 12th, weakened next, soon behind, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
in touch, headway 10th, challenged 12th, led next, going well before 3 out, clear next, stayed on strongly
led until 3rd, pressed leaders until ridden after 4 out, still well there under pressure until went left and sprawled badly on landing 3 out, soon no extra and eased, tailed off
held up in rear, reminders before 10th, stayed on to poor 5th 2 out
Portrait Royale hasn't finished out of the first two in her last seven starts and, though raised 5lb for her latest win at Folkestone, is certainly one for the short list here. Hobb's Dream has been knocking on the door and won't mind the ground but couldn't take advantage of a similar opportunity at Fontwell last time and has become expensive to follow. The vote, therefore, goes to BILLY MURPHY who is definitely on the upgrade over fences and would have overhauled Pete The Feat in another stride at Folkestone last month.
Portrait Royale (IRE) 2-1 (11-12) Tended to jump right, pressed leader, led 5th, made rest, driven before 2 out, pressed between last 2, kept on gamely to assert and went right last, driven out, won at Folkestone 3m 1f hcp 0-90 (5) sft in Nov beating You Can Of Course (10-10) by 4l, 4 ran.
Peter Sent 14-1 (11-12) Led until after 1st, lost place before 7th, weakened 9th, clambered over 3 out, soon pulled up, in a race won by Bobby Bullock (10-11) at Towcester 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs in Nov, 7 ran.
Quazy de Joie (FR) 11-1 (11-12) In rear, not fluent 2nd, hit 9th, jumped left 10th, soon well behind, jumped left 12th, pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Aztec Treasure (11-9) at Towcester 3m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Dec, 9 ran.
Billy Murphy 12-1 (11-8) In touch on outside, effort 3 out, ridden next, went 2 lengths 2nd last, rallied and every chance towards finish, just failed, 2nd of 10, ns behind Pete The Feat (11-12) at Folkestone 3m 1f hcp 0-90 (5) gs in Dec.
Brushford (IRE) 33-1 (11-5) Behind, until moderate late headway, never dangerous, 7th of 11, 31l behind Marias Rock (11-0) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp 0-90 (5) gs in Dec.
Wide Receiver (IRE) 9-1 (10-7) With leader, led 3rd until 7th, led 9th until 13th, outpaced 4 out, weakened after 3 out, 3rd of 7, 27l behind Pacco (11-12) at Towcester 3m hcp 0-100 (4) sft in Nov.
Hobb's Dream (IRE) 13-8fav (10-4) Held up in touch, not fluent 1st, chased leaders approaching 6th, led 3 out, ridden approaching and headed last, no extra, 2nd of 5, 5l behind Queenstown Lad (10-0) at Fontwell 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) hvy in Nov.
Kiltimoney (IRE) 5-1 (10-1) Tracked leaders, blundered 5th, lost place 4 out, ridden and weakened before 2 out, 9th of 10, 41l behind Pete The Feat (11-12) at Folkestone 3m 1f hcp 0-90 (5) gs in Dec.
Commanche Dawn 33-1 (10-0) Held up in rear, ridden to chase leaders after 3 out, kept on same pace, disputed 4th when not fluent last, never troubled leaders, 4th of 10, 11l behind Pete The Feat (11-12) at Folkestone 3m 1f hcp 0-90 (5) gs in Dec.
