chased leader, challenging when left well clear 4 out, mistake 2 out
held up, jumped right 1st, in touch when mistake 3rd, not fluent next, lost place 7th, left remote 3rd 4 out, disputing 2nd flat, no chance with winner
held up, headway 4th, ridden after 9th, left 10 lengths 3rd when fell 4 out
chased leaders, pecked 1st, soon lost place, behind from 7th
led, not fluent 2nd, pressed when fell 4 out
held up on outside, mistake 3rd, in touch next, left 9 lengths 2nd 4 out, soon got tired, lost 2 places flat
took keen hold, tracked leaders, pecked slightly 3rd, lost action and pulled up
refused to race
jumped left in rear, behind 6th, plugged on from 3 out, went 2nd flat, no chance with winner
This won’t take much winning but only a tentative vote goes to COCK A DOODLE DO as he’s changed stables since second in a couple of hurdle races in the spring and has managed just one win in 22 starts. Darling Alko, another chasing debutant, still has time on his side while Seeanythingyoulike has placed in his last two runs over fences and started joint favourite on both occasions. The four-year-old Noble Saffron won at Plumpton and finished ahead of Best Director when fourth at Bangor but has gone up in the weights.
Darling Alko (FR) 12-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, outpaced after 4 out, mistake last, 4th of 9, 24 3/4l behind Old Jeroboam (10-12) at Worcester 2m (4) gs in Oct.
Mouseinthehouse (IRE) 10-1 (11-1) Ballooned 1st, held up in rear, plugged on into modest 3rd close home, 3rd of 7, 25 1/2l behind Pointed And Sharp (11-12) at Taunton 2m hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Hope's Wishes 11-4fav (11-12) Held up, headway 3rd, not fluent 5th, chased winner before next until approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 6th of 7, dist behind Tigeralley (11-6) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp (5) hvy in Mar.
Cock A Doodle Doo (FR) 13-2 (11-12) Held up well off the pace in rear, 4th and plenty to do before 2 out, went 2nd at the last, kept on same pace, never able to challenge, 2nd of 8, 9l behind Ask Catkin (11-5) at Huntingdon 3m 1f hcp (5) gd in May.
Seeanythingyoulike (IRE) 11-4jfav (10-8) Held up in rear, took keen hold, headway approaching 4 out, mistake 3 out, driven before last, stayed on same pace flat, 3rd of 10, 2 3/4l behind Duc Kauto (10-11) at Wincanton 2m hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Hume Lough 4-1 (12-2) Ww, prog to join ldrs 4out, 6th app str, ko to go 3rd at last, 3rd of 12, 3l behind Batchelors Walk (12-2) at Stradbally 3m mdn gd in May.
Noble Saffron 2-1 (10-0) Led, keen, headed 6th, rallied 4 out, under pressure next, weakened 2 out, 4th of 7, 24 1/2l behind Twotwothree (11-11) at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 1f hcp (4) sft in Oct.
Corrie Loch 14-1 (10-0) Held up towards rear, headway on wide outside chasing leaders 4 out, went 2nd before 2 out until between last 2, soon weakened, 4th of 11, 16 1/2l behind Runasimi River (11-4) at Hereford 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Best Director (IRE) 16-1 (10-0) Held up in rear, headway 4 out, ridden after next, never on terms, 5th of 7, 31 1/2l behind Twotwothree (11-11) at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 1f hcp (4) sft in Oct.
