started behind, mid-division by 3rd, closed 4 out, 3rd and held when left 2nd 2 out, stayed on same pace, no impression on winner
mid-division, closed from 3rd, not fluent 4 out, chased winner 2 out, just over 2 lengths down when stumbled and unseated rider 2 out
held up in rear, headway after 4 out, weakened before next
virtually refused to race and pulled up before 1st
held up towards rear, mistake 4 out, soon well behind, pulled up before 3 out
chased leaders, not fluent 1st, mistake 4 out, no extra before 3 out
chased leaders, slow and lost place 3rd, slow 4th, well beaten before 3 out
tracked leaders, went 2nd after 4 out until 3 out, stayed on same pace
raced keenly, pressed winner until after 4 out, weakened before next
made all, just over 2 lengths ahead when left well clear 2 out, stayed on
Despite pulling hard and hanging badly on the run-in, Overpriced Mixer still managed to make a winning start over hurdles at Kempton and looks the pick of the penalised trio in this if that has taught him a few lessons. Talking About You is already looking exposed while Cartmel winner Naizagai struggled under the extra at Uttoxeter. There are a few promising recruits from the Flat in this and none more so than NUMBERONESON, who showed a nice turn of foot to score over 1m2f at Leopardstown in July when trained by Joseph O’Brien. The former Godolphin inmate State Crown and Lord P are also worth a second look.
Naizagai 11-8 (11-5) Led, hung right, not fluent 3 out and headed soon after, weakened 2 out, kept on at one pace after mistake last, 3rd of 6, 14 3/4l behind Cabot Cliffs (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m (4) gs in Oct.
Overpriced Mixer 7-4 (10-12) Keen tracked leader 2nd, led soon after 3 out, 2 lengths clear when ducked left approaching last and rider lost irons, ridden and ran on, won at Kempton 2m (3) gd in Oct beating Kentucky Hardboot (10-12) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Asharann (FR) 10-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, took keen hold, not fluent 1st, hampered 4th, well beaten from 3 out, 8th of 9, dist behind Dutch Admiral (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m (4) gd in Sep.
Can't Stop Now (IRE) 12-1 (10-12) Keen led, ridden and headed soon after 3 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 8, 15 1/2l behind Overpriced Mixer (10-12) at Kempton 2m (3) gd in Oct.
Carlofantastico 20-1 (9-1) Prominent on outer, pressed leader, shaken up 3f out, weakened quickly from over 1f out, last of 7, 20 3/4l behind Baryshnikov (9-7) at Chester 1m 2f stks (4) gd in Sep.
Lord P 9-2 (9-7) Switched right start, held up in rear, ran on towards finish, never nearer, 5th of 9, 3 1/4l behind Bowling Russian (9-11) at Wolverhampton 6f hcp (5) pol in Mar.
Mr Shady (IRE) 50-1 (9-3) Held up towards rear, switched right and driven over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 11, 12 1/4l behind Precisely (8-13) at Bath 1m 2f hcp (5) fm in Sep.
Numberoneson (IRE) 4-1 (9-6) Tracked leaders on inner, 3rd halfway, close 4th 2f out, pushed along to go 2nd over 1f out, ridden and edged right under 1f out, kept on well under pressure to lead close home, won at Leopardstown 1m 2f hcp gd in Jul beating Avarice (9-8) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
State Crown (IRE) 7-2 (9-7) Bit keen tracking leader, pushed along 4f out, ridden and lost 2nd over 3f out, chased leaders, weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 8, 4 1/2l behind Glenties (9-11) at Windsor 1m 3f hcp (4) gf in Jul.
Theocrat (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Keen in midfield, took closer order 4th, close up when ridden before 3 out, outpaced run in, 4th of 9, 3 3/4l behind Orchestral Rain (11-0) at Ludlow 2m mdn (4) gd in Oct.
Talking About You 11-1 (11-2) Raced keenly, led, hit 6th, not fluent 2 out, headed before last, no extra flat, 4th of 9, 10 1/2l behind To Fly Free (10-10) at Fakenham 2m fll (4) gd in Oct.
