tracked leaders, not fluent 6th, blundered badly and lost place 8th, closed before slow 12th, driven 15th, lost place before 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up before last
tracked leaders, went 2nd 6th, every chance 4 out until not much room 2 out, one pace and held last
led 1st until after 2nd, led from 3rd, pecked 4 out, headed and mistake 3 out, weakened next
in touch, mistake and lost place 6th, headway 8th, not fluent next, led 3 out, edged right flat, hard pressed, held on
led until 1st, led after 2nd, headed next, stayed handy, blundered badly 6th, not much room after 4 out and switched left, challenged 2 out, every chance flat, just held
held up in rear, headway before 4 out, every chance 3 out, one pace and held last
tracked leaders on outside, lost place 3rd, headway on outside 10th, pushed along and struggling from 12th, behind 15th, soon pulled up
Balkinstown can race off the same mark as when winning over hurdles at Plumpton a week ago. He has won between the flags so a switch to fences may well suit Bob Stephens’ charge but the penny looks to have dropped with MONSIEUR ARKADIN and the top weight may provide more value if reproducing recent runs at Stratford and Kelso. Hugos Horse shouldn’t be far away as Paul Nicholls’ five-year-old has been marking time over hurdles but The Ogle Gogle Man has become expensive to follow. Baron Du Plessis hails from an in-form yard but Sutter's Mill again looked one-paced when third at Ffos Las on Friday.
Monsieur Arkadin (FR) 9-4jfav (11-12) Tracked leaders, led 11th, ridden and headed after 2 out, kept on same pace, no impression with front pair from last, 3rd of 7, 8l behind Troubled Soul (11-9) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Baron Du Plessis (FR) 15-8fav (11-0) Mid-division on outside, headway 13th, every chance when blundered 3 out, no extra next, 3rd of 8, 15 1/2l behind Elkstone (11-10) at Kempton 3m hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Hugos Horse (FR) 12-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, outpaced by front pair after 4 out, well held from next, plugged on same pace, 3rd of 5, 17 1/2l behind Cotswold Way (11-4) at Exeter 2m 6f (3) gd in Nov.
Sutter's Mill (IRE) 9-2 (11-6) Mid-division, headway chasing leaders 11th, ridden before 4 out, outpaced approaching 3 out, kept on into modest 3rd next, 3rd of 11, 4 1/4l behind Colmers Hill (11-3) at Ffos Las 3m hcp (5) sft in Nov.
The Ogle Gogle Man (IRE) 2-1fav (11-6) Held up in touch, slow 3rd and 4th, headway to track leaders 11th, effort 2 out, weakened last, 2nd of 6, 18l behind Kovera (10-1) at Sedgefield 3m 2f hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Balkinstown (IRE) 7-2 (11-12) Chased leaders, 2nd after 10th, led going well before 2 out, pushed along and kept on well run-in, won at Plumpton 3m 1f hcp (5) gd in Nov beating Lamh Ar Lamh (10-5) by 1 3/4l, 7 ran.
Midnight Owle 11-1 (10-0) Made most until 7th, with leader, led again 10th until 4 out, chased leader until 2 out, no extra in 3rd, 3rd of 11, 21l behind Mortens Leam (12-0) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp (5) gs in Nov.
