raced wide, tracked leaders, led 2 out, clear between last two, very easily
took keen hold, tracked leader, mistake 6th, ridden and lost 2nd before 2 out, hit 2 out, weakened into 4th between last two, hit last, went modest 3rd in closing stages
tracked leaders, went 3rd between last two, driven into 2nd when mistake last, no chance with very easy winner
tracked leaders, led 4th, not fluent 7th, mistake and headed 2 out, chased winner, no impression when lost 2nd approaching the last, mistake last, weakened into modest 4th in closing stages
led until 4th, chased leaders, lost place approaching 5th, soon behind, tailed off
tracked leaders, outpaced 3 out, soon struggling in last pair, tailed off
Nonrunner
BARON ALCO shrugged off a 7lb rise for winning at Stratford and went in again at Fontwell last month. The hat-trick beckons in his current form but Crookstown looks a threat after going close at Doncaster a fortnight ago. Gevrey Chambertin has disappointed in a couple of starts since running well at Newton Abbot in October and First Avenue has struggled since winning at Worcester last year where he beat Stiff Upper Lip, though he loves the mud. Top Man Marty and Norse Legend are hard to fancy returning from a lay-off.
Gevrey Chambertin (FR) 11-1 (11-11) Held up in mid-division, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out, 7th of 12, 32 3/4l behind Missed Approach (10-7) at Newbury 3m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Norse Legend 14-1 (10-12) Led, mistake 3rd, soon headed, mistakes 5th and 6th, lost place 7th, behind when pulled up before 3 out, at Newbury 2m 3f hcp (2) gd in Mar.
First Avenue 11-1 (11-11) Midfield, weakened 3 out, behind when blundered last, 7th of 8, 34 1/4l behind Rock Of Leon (11-5) at Lingfield 2m 3f hcp (3) hvy in Nov.
Crookstown (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, challenged 3 out, led next, ridden flat, headed final 100 yards, 2nd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Red Devil Boys (11-11) at Doncaster 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Stiff Upper Lip (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, outpaced 3 out, weakened before next, 6th of 8, 28 3/4l behind Clondaw Banker (11-2) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Top Man Marty (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, hard driven 3 out, no extra approaching last, 3rd of 11, 22l behind Inner Drive (11-2) at Huntingdon 2m 4f mdn (4) sft in Mar.
Baron Alco (FR) 5-4fav (11-10) Made all, ridden before last, hung right run-in, kept on, driven out, won at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp (3) sft in Nov beating Mr Fitzroy (10-11) by 3 1/4l, 6 ran.
