towards rear, ridden approaching 3 out, outpaced 2 out, no impression
mid-division, pushed along and chased leading trio after 2 out, no closer at the last but kept on strongly run-in
mid-division, niggled along approaching 3 out, weakened quickly after 3 out, not fluent 2 out, tailed off
in rear, outpaced and weakened quickly after 4 out, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
prominent, led narrowly or disputed lead, headed approaching 3 out, weakened quickly
prominent and disputed lead, led approaching 3 out, soon pressed and headed, kept on when ridden and gamely held onto third
close up and tracked leaders, joined leaders 3 out, every chance when a narrow 2nd and pushed along 2 out, briefly outpaced after last, kept on powerfully when ridden closing stages, no match for winner
mid-division, niggled along 3 out, outpaced after 2 out, stayed on well after the last
tracked leaders, headway and led following good jump 3 out, led narrowly 2 out and last, extended advantage when driven out after the last, eased down final 50 yards, comfortable
towards rear, pushed along and struggling after 4 out, pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, outpaced and ridden after 2 out, no extra close home
keen in mid-division, jumped markedly left 2nd, not fluent 3rd, pushed along after 2 out, no impression
prominent early stages, headed and tracked leaders after 4th, pushed along and outpaced approaching 3 out, weakened after 2 out
towards rear, ridden along and outpaced approaching 3 out, never involved
mid-division, pushed along and weakened quickly approaching 3 out, not fluent 3 out, soon towards rear and well held
towards rear, niggled along 3 out, stayed on gamely after 2 out
Bumper winner LONG STAY has obvious claims having found only one too good and finishing clear of the rest at Musselburgh on his hurdling debut. Improvement is expected on his second outing after wind surgery and Fergal O’Brien’s yard is in good form. Just The Man finished third at Hereford without threatening on his hurdling bow while Sufi placed at Newton Abbot on his debut over hurdles and has undergone a wind operation since. Lissitzky won twice on the Flat and has switched yards while Finoah is another debuting in this code.
Bbob Alula 66-1 (9-3) Slowly away, headway to chase leader over 4f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed entering final furlong, weakened quickly, 8th of 11, 6 3/4l behind Risaalaat (9-6) at Kempton 7f hcp (6) pol in Nov.
Chess Player (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Towards rear, pushed along 4 out, never nearer, 5th of 9, 24 3/4l behind Pink Sheets (11-5) at Kempton 2m (4) gd in Nov.
Finoah (IRE) Evensfav (9-7) Tracked leader, ridden to lead briefly over 1f out, soon headed, kept on under pressure but could not match winner, 2nd of 7, 1 1/2l behind Twpsyn (9-5) at Redcar 1m 2f stks (5) sft in Nov.
Imhotep 250-1 (11-0) Never better than mid-division, ridden and weakened after 3 out, 10th of 11, dist behind Atholl Street (11-0) at Taunton 2m mdn (4) gd in Nov.
Joint Account (IRE) 250-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, left in 2nd place before 2nd, pushed along and lost well held 2nd 3 out, soon weakened, 7th of 12, dist behind Bothwell Bridge (10-12) at Warwick 2m 3f (4) gd in Nov.
Just The Man (FR) 16-1 (11-0) Mid-division, not fluent 4th, headway before next, went 3rd final bend, no impression on front pair, 3rd of 11, 13 1/2l behind Benson (11-6) at Hereford 2m (4) gs in Nov.
Kakamora 11-2 (10-12) Held up in touch on inside, closed 7th, outpaced after 4 out, well beaten 3 out, 6th of 10, dist behind Bobhopeornohope (10-12) at Exeter 2m 6f (3) gd in Nov.
Lissitzky (IRE) 22-1 (8-6) Towards rear, wide and headway over 3f out, weakened final furlong, 5th of 10, 18l behind Ocean Wind (9-1) at Newmarket 2m 2f hcp (2) gf in Sep.
Long Stay 13-8fav (11-0) Held up in mid-division on inside, good headway chasing leaders approaching 3 out, challenging in dispute of 2nd approaching 2 out, outright 2nd between last 2, every chance last, ridden to challenge run-in, no extra, 2nd of 13, 2 1/2l behind Bareback Jack (11-0) at Musselburgh 2m (4) gd in Nov.
Shybairnsgetnowt (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Took keen hold, held up towards rear, well beaten over 3f out, last of 9, 36l behind Alaphilippe (10-12) at Ffos Las 2m mdn (5) hvy in Oct.
Sufi 20-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, made little impression from over 1f out, last of 7, 8 1/4l behind Singing The Blues (9-10) at Bath 1m 4f hcp (4) gf in Sep.
Thunderoad 6-1 (9-7) Switched left start, held up towards rear, headway on outside over 2f out, ridden chasing leaders over 1f out, 3rd and one pace inside final furlong, no extra towards finish, 4th of 13, 2 1/2l behind Plansina (9-4) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (6) pol in Oct.
Timeforadance 125-1 (11-0) Prominent, mistake 4th, ridden and weakened before 2 out, 7th of 10, dist behind Across The Line (11-0) at Hereford 2m (4) gs in Nov.
Valentine's Turf (FR) 100-1 (10-12) Behind, not fluent 1st, tailed off from 5th, pulled up after 3 out, at Hereford 2m 4f (4) sft in Nov.
White Turf (IRE) 200-1 (10-12) Slightly worse than mid-division, pushed after 3 out, ridden after 2 out, could never get involved, 9th of 12, dist behind Witness Protection (10-12) at Stratford 2m 3f (4) gs in Nov.
Winged Isle 28-1 (10-5) Always behind, tailed off 5th, pulled up after, at Hereford 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
