held up mid-division, weakened before 3 out, tailed off, pulled up
tracked leaders, went 2nd 4 out, led before 2 out, pressed before last, kept on well, driven out
tracked leaders, pushed along and weakened before 2 out, pulled up
tracked leaders, headway halfway to take closer order, ridden and chance before last, kept on and held run-in
in rear, weakened from 4 out, tailed off
always towards rear, pulled up
held up towards rear, pushed along before 6th, soon weakened, tailed off, pulled up
tracked leader, pushed along before 4th, mistake 5th, ridden before 3 out, soon weakened
led, pushed along before 2 out, soon headed, no extra
towards rear, weakened from 6th, tailed off, pulled up
This looks wide open with Phare Isle, Palm Grey, Great Link and Rumble Of Thunder having already won at the track, though the latter may just need this. Crosspark is relatively unexposed while Cotillion has been making hay in sellers. Cusheen Bridge can't be ruled out, despite top weight, and Charlie Longsdon won this last year so a return to form for Midnight Shot wouldn't be out of the question with Richard Johnson doing the steering. Salmanazar will have benefited from his run at Leicester but we’ll stick with AWAY FOR SLATES (NAP) as he stayed on strongly to score over a slightly shorter trip at Musselburgh three weeks ago and the second went very close again at that track earlier this week.
Rumble Of Thunder (IRE) 12-1 (9-7) In touch, driven to chase leaders over 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong, never on terms, 6th of 15, 4 1/2l behind Sir Chauvelin (9-3) at Ayr 1m 5f hcp (5) gd in Sep.
Salmanazar 10-1 (11-12) Mid-division, closed 6th, outpaced after 3 out, well held next, 5th of 8, 16 3/4l behind Goodbye Dancer (11-4) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Crosspark 2-1 (11-5) Mid-division, not fluent 7th, headway on outside 4 out, every chance 2 out, 3rd and no impression on winner when dived at last, 3rd of 9, 10 3/4l behind Singlefarmpayment (10-12) at Southwell 3m (4) sft in Dec.
Cotillion 4-6fav (11-9) Keen, in touch, tracked leaders 7th, joined leader 3 out, led when hit next, soon clear, comfortable, won at Fakenham 2m 4f (5) sft in Jan beating Trapper Peak (11-6) by 19l, 6 ran.
Midnight Shot 12-1 (11-12) Held up in mid-division, headway after 5th, ridden and lost place after 3 out, no impression when not fluent next, 11th of 17, 18 3/4l behind Kings Bayonet (11-4) at Huntingdon 2m hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Away For Slates (IRE) 3-1fav (11-7) Mid-division, headway before 3 out, soon chasing leaders, led last, ran on well, won at Musselburgh 2m 3f hcp (4) gs in Jan beating Teo Vivo (11-12) by 3 1/4l, 12 ran.
Phare Isle (IRE) 66-1 (10-5) Held up in 5th, weakened on long run before 2 out, 8th of 10, 22 3/4l behind Simply A Legend (10-5) at Sandown 2m 5f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Palm Grey (IRE) 5-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, hampered 6th, headway when mistake 9th, weakened 3 out, rallying when hampered last, modest 3rd, 3rd of 8, dist behind Ballyadeen (10-3) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Great Link 11-4fav (11-9) Held up, not fluent 2nd, headway 5th, ridden after 11th, closed before 4 out, one pace next, well held 4th from 2 out, 4th of 7, 16 1/4l behind Mystifiable (10-13) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Captain Kelly (IRE) 5-1 (11-10) Mistake 1st, held up towards rear, headway under pressure after 4 out, ridden disputing well held 3rd when hit 2 out, no extra soon after, 4th of 8, 14 1/2l behind Life Of A Luso (11-10) at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp (3) gf in Sep.
Cusheen Bridge (IRE) 11-2 (11-11) Mid-division, lost place after 5th, well beaten 2 out, plugged on flat, 7th of 9, 11 1/4l behind Template (11-3) at Huntingdon 2m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
