left chasing clear leader 1st, mistake 8th, closed next, led after 3 out, clear from next, stayed on
held up in rear, jumped left 1st, headway 8th, going quite well and pressing for 2nd when blundered and unseated rider 9th
led, soon clear, not fluent 3rd or 6th, reduced lead 9th, mistake 4 out, headed after next, soon beaten
in rear, struggling 5th, well behind from next, left at the 9th, blundered badly 3 out
2nd when hit 1st, slithered and almost fell, chased leaders, mistake 6th, closed 9th, 3rd and well held from 4 out
stumbled and unseated rider 1st
in rear, blundered 1st, mistake next, soon behind, mistake 8th, pulled up before 4 out
Fingers Crossed has been second twice in six starts over fences, including once over this track and trip. He could go well if fully wound-up but the obvious one is GO ON HENRY, who was clear at this distance when successful over 2m4f here last month and is only 4lb higher. Dark Mahler was lightly raced over hurdles but has been placed between the flags so should make a chaser, though the handicapper has taken no chances.
Dark Mahler (IRE) 11-4 (11-0) Chased leaders, ridden in 3rd and stayed on same pace from 2 out, no extra in 4th run-in, 4th of 11, 19 1/4l behind Excellent Team (11-6) at Stratford 2m (4) gd in Apr.
Its A Sting (IRE) 3-1 (11-2) Fell 1st, at Huntingdon 2m hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Legal Ok (IRE) 15-2 (11-11) Led, soon clear, not fluent 4th, reduced lead next, headed after 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out, at Towcester 2m 5f hcp (4) gf in Oct.
Cervin (FR) 20-1 (11-6) Mid-division on outside, headway 6th, 2nd next, jumped left 9th, lost 2nd when not fluent 4 out, no extra next, weakened, 5th of 7, dist behind Western Miller (11-6) at Stratford 2m 3f (4) gs in Sep.
Fingers Crossed (IRE) 20-1 (10-9) Held up in last pair, driven along in modest 4th on long run before 3 out, 4th of 7, 14 1/4l behind Midnight Cowboy (12-3) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in May.
Go On Henry (IRE) 7-1 (11-3) In rear, outpaced before 5 out, headway before 4 out, led 2 out, clear before last, won at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp (5) gd in Oct beating Grand Coureur (11-12) by 4l, 10 ran.
Robin Why Not (IRE) 25-1 (11-3) Chased leader until after 4th, chased leaders, ridden before 7th, soon lost touch, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out, at Exeter 2m 6f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
