waited with in last pair, closer out wide 5th, travelling well after next, went 2nd 2 out, led before the last, clear and kept up to work run-in
tracked leaders, closer on inside after 4 out, outpaced before 2 out, went modest 3rd run-in
never fluent and tended to jump right, led, jumped slowly 1st, reminders after 4th, jumped slowly and headed 3 out, mistake and lost 2nd next, weakened and mistake last
raced keenly tracking leader, not fluent 3rd, led 3 out, joined and hit next, headed before the last, stayed on same pace no chance with winner
pulled hard, prominent out wide, mistake 4 out, weakened quickly soon after, tailed off
Freddy Robinson finished almost three lengths ahead of Super Stars in the race won by Cabrakan at Newcastle nine days ago but Brian Ellison’s charge looks vulnerable here against a couple of potentially-useful hurdling newcomers. GAIUS won over 1m2f at Windsor on his final start for Richard Hannon. He’s joined a powerful NH yard and gets the nod over Kincade, who won over 2m1f at Pontefract in August so won’t fail through lack of stamina. Grifter was 1-16 on the Flat and was best over a mile.
Freddy Robinson 16-1 (11-0) Took keen hold in midfield, not fluent 6th, pushed along before 3 out, stayed on same pace run-in, 4th of 6, 6 1/2l behind Cabrakan (11-0) at Newcastle 2m (2) gs in Nov.
Gaius 11-8fav (9-10) Made all, joined 3f out, pushed along 2f out, ridden out, won at Windsor 1m 2f hcp (4) gf in Aug beating Tartan Chief (9-7) by 3/4l, 5 ran.
Grifter 50-1 (9-0) Mid-division near side, pushed along and weakened 3f out, last of 13, 9 1/2l behind Roudemental (9-5) at Newcastle 1m hcp (4) pol in Nov.
Kincade (IRE) 14-1 (9-6) Led, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, stayed on, 2nd of 7, 2 3/4l behind Mostly Sunny (9-5) at Newcastle 2m hcp (4) pol in Nov.
Super Stars (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Took keen hold, held up in last, not fluent 6th, ridden 2 out, stayed on same pace run-in, 5th of 6, 9 1/4l behind Cabrakan (11-0) at Newcastle 2m (2) gs in Nov.
Famille Verte (IRE) 100-1 (10-9) In rear, in touch, pushed along before 3 out, soon well held, last of 5, 23l behind Spartan Army (11-2) at Wetherby 2m mdn (4) hvy in Nov.