chased leaders, blundered 7th, effort 3 out, stayed on after last
held up in touch, headway 6 out, led 4 out, mistake next, all out
led until 4 out, weakened quickly, lost place
tracked leaders, under pressure 6 out, rallied 3 out, soon beaten, modest 4th
held up in touch, slow 5th, weakened approaching 3 out
prominent, driven after 3 out, stayed on well closing stages, never reached winner
One Night In Milan has placed in tougher races than this since scoring at Kelso in September but is now 14lb higher than that success. Mighty Thunder has been raised 8lb for last month’s convincing course and distance victory when Arthurs Secret finished well beaten in third and the former should go well again but Fred The Foot has to race off a higher mark in this country having placed at Bellewstown off an 8lb lower mark when last over timber. KNOCK HOUSE faded badly on November’s comeback run at Carlisle but Donald McCain’s charge will be sharper today and gets a speculative vote to return to form having been narrowly beaten off a higher mark in last year’s renewal.
One Night In Milan (IRE) 8-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, closed on inside 4th, every chance last, held by winner flat, kept on, 2nd of 8, 2 1/4l behind Notre Pari (10-5) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Fred The Foot (IRE) 11-4fav (11-12) Tracked leaders on outer, slight mistake 5th, 2nd 4 out, close 2nd next, soon ridden and dropped to 4th, moderate 5th after 2 out, no impression, 5th of 10, 36 1/2l behind The Caddy Rose (11-5) at Navan 2m 4f gd in Sep.
Knock House (IRE) 25-1 (11-1) Held up towards rear, ridden and weakened before 3 out, 7th of 9, dist behind Bordeaux Bill (10-9) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Mighty Thunder 13-2 (11-5) Led, 2nd made rest, came clear 3 out, easily, won at Musselburgh 3m hcp (3) gs in Dec beating Niceandeasy (11-1) by 10l, 7 ran.
Arthurs Secret 9-2 (11-4) Held up in last pair, closer at 8th, went 2nd and mistake 2 out, held when reached for last, no chance with winner, lost 2nd run-in, 3rd of 7, 12 1/2l behind Mighty Thunder (11-5) at Musselburgh 3m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Ask Paddington (IRE) 7-1 (11-8) Chased leader, hit 3rd, lost 2nd 5th, soon lost place, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out, at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Nov.
