led until approaching the last, ridden and stayed on same pace run-in, well held, no chance with winner
always last, mistake and reminder 10th, lost touch before 3 out
tracked leader until 2nd, disputing 2nd from 8th until approaching 3 out, chased leaders, chance 2 out, ridden and weakened between last two
raced wide, held up in last pair, steady headway 10th, pushed along and every chance 2 out, ridden and no extra in 3rd last
chased leaders on inside, pushed along before 3 out, weakened before next
tracked leader 2nd, disputing 2nd from 8th, 2nd again inside before 3 out, led before the last, kept on strongly run-in, eased towards finish
Blakeney Point is probably back in the handicapper’s grip and Donald McCain’s charge also prefers a quicker surface. Native Fighter has been a long way below his best this year but Mullaghmore Wave will have needed his run at Listowel in September. RICKETY GATE is due to carry overweight but Conor Rabbitt, who rode him to victory at Kelso, claims 8lb and the seven-year-old should stay the longer trip around here.
Cyclop (IRE) 9-1 (10-6) Led, tracked leader 8th, lost place and ridden 4 out, weakened 3 out, 5th of 8, dist behind Ballymillsy (10-6) at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp (2) gs in Oct.
Blakeney Point 4-1 (12-0) Tracked leaders, ridden and every chance 2 out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 4, 5 3/4l behind Ernesto (11-7) at Hereford 3m 2f hcp (4) gf in Oct.
That's A Given (FR) 10-1 (11-7) Not jump well towards rear, struggling 12th, well behind 14th, 6th of 7, 30 1/2l behind Pookie Pekan (11-1) at Musselburgh 3m hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Mullaghmore Wave (IRE) 22-1 (11-10) Always towards rear, never a factor, no threat from 3 out, kept on one pace, 13th of 18, 35 1/2l behind Highland Penny (11-10) at Listowel 2m 4f hcp gd in Sep.
Native Fighter (IRE) 4-1 (10-2) Held up in rear, some late progress but no chance, 5th of 7, 9 1/2l behind Catchmeifyoucan (10-2) at Perth 3m hcp (3) gd in Sep.
Rickety Gate 11-4fav (11-2) Mostly chased leader until led bypassing omitted last, stayed on well run-in (both hurdles in home straight omitted due to low sun, total of 6 hurdles jumped), won at Kelso 2m 5f hcp (5) gd in Oct beating Castletown (11-13) by 4 3/4l, 13 ran.