prominent early, tracked leaders, hit 20th, weakened before 4 out
chased leaders, went 2nd 3rd, led 5th, headed 8th, not fluent 13th, mistake 15th, lost 2nd next, blundered badly and weakened 18th, pulled up before 4 out
held up towards rear, headway before 17th, 5th and struggling 4 out, left 3rd last
jumped left at times, led before 1st, headed 5th, led 8th, not fluent 16th, headed before 4 out, 3rd and beaten when mistake 2 out, left 2nd last
in rear, slow and reminders 7th, ridden 10th, behind next, mistake and tailed off 14th, pulled up before next
towards rear, not fluent 13th, mistake and struggling 16th, well beaten 20th, pulled up before 4 out
held up in rear, headway after 20th, led 2 out, 2 lengths up when ducked left and unseated rider last
mid-division on outside, headway before 17th, 4th lengths 3rd 4 out, weakened 3 out, fell 2 out
mid-division on inside, struggling 17th, tailed off 19th, pulled up after next
prominent early, tracked leaders, not fluent 7th or 15th, struggling 18th, mistake next, pulled up before 4 out
led early, tracked leaders, lost lace before 5th, ridden 17th, effort 19th, lost place before 4 out, well beaten after, left 4th last
tracked leaders, went 2nd 16th, led before 4 out, jumped left and not fluent 3 out, went left, mistake and headed 2 out, 2 lengths down when left in clear lead last
The first four home last year all take their chances once again. Dancing Shadow beat Gonalston Cloud on that occasion with Azure Fly and Full Jack further behind but Vic Dartnell’s charge will have to put a poor effort at Sandown in December behind him if he’s to repeat. Missed Approach has slipped down the weights on the back of disappointing runs in Grade 3 handicaps and may return to something like his best but DELUSIONOFGRANDEUR makes most appeal. Beaten less than a length in the competitive Rowland Meyrick at Wetherby on Boxing Day, Sue Smith’s chaser should go close again with a similar effort. Mister Don won at Doncaster last time and a 5lb rise is cancelled out by a conditional’s allowance while Bells 'n' Banjos finished with a late flourish in a tougher race at Cheltenham back in October but Southfield Theatre looks no nearer ending a long losing run.
Delusionofgrandeur (IRE) 7-1 (11-2) Led, ridden and headed approaching last, led again soon after landing, headed towards finish, 3rd of 8, 1/4l behind Get On The Yager (10-7) at Wetherby 3m hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Southfield Theatre (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Led until 2nd, tracked leader, mistake 7th, hit 13th and ridden, lost place before 18th, soon behind, pulled up before 2 out, at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp (2) hvy in Jan.
Relentless Dreamer (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, lost place after 4th, headway 9th, struggling from 10th, no impression after, 6th of 10, 7 1/4l behind Wicked Willy (11-0) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Missed Approach (IRE) 9-2fav (11-12) Led after 2nd, headed 4th, led before 6th, headed 9th, 4th and beaten 2 out, went 3rd last, 3rd of 13, 23l behind Milansbar (11-7) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp (1) sft in Jan.
Dancing Shadow (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Mid-division, not fluent 2nd, jumped slowly 12th, weakened before 5 out, last of 10, dist behind Benbens (10-13) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Bells 'n' Banjos (IRE) 9-1 (10-5) Mid-division, outpaced and behind 4 out, ridden and kept on under pressure from last, not pace to trouble leaders, 5th of 16, 13 1/4l behind Cogry (10-5) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Looking Well (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Held up mid-division, ridden before 4 out, soon weakened, 7th of 11, dist behind Beeves (11-8) at Perth 3m hcp (2) gd in Jun.
Ballymalin (IRE) 5-2 (11-3) Chased leaders, jumped slowly at several fences until closed 10th, hit 15th, went 2nd 17th, mistake next, no impression on winner when losing 2nd after 2 out, weakened, 3rd of 5, 28l behind Vyta Du Roc (11-6) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp (2) hvy in Jan.
Gonalston Cloud (IRE) 18-1 (11-12) Towards rear, headway before 4 out, weakened next, 5th of 9, 24 3/4l behind I Just Know (11-10) at Catterick 3m 6f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Azure Fly (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Tracked leader, led before 7th, headed before 11th, ridden before 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before last, at Fontwell 3m 4f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Mister Don (IRE) 11-2 (10-11) Tracked leaders, went 2nd at 13th, led before 5 out, driven clear 4 out to next, soon ridden and hard pressed, stayed on well from last, won at Doncaster 3m 2f hcp (3) gd in Dec beating Alvarado (11-12) by 4 1/2l, 7 ran.
Full Jack (FR) 5-2jfav (12-0) Led to 4th, remained prominent, ridden to chase winner before 3 out, kept on same pace in 3rd flat, 3rd of 8, 3 1/2l behind Jump For Dough (11-12) at Musselburgh 3m hcp (4) gs in Jan.
