always towards rear, struggling from 8th, tailed off before 5 out
held up mid-division, jumped left 6 out, weakened before 2 out
in touch in 4th, weakened before 3 out
fell 1st
hampered 1st, towards rear, jumped left 11th, tailed off 5 out, pulled up
tracked leader, led 10th, kept on strongly from before 2 out
held up towards rear, headway before 5 out, kept on same pace
held up mid-division, pushed along after 8th, mistake 9th, weakened from 7 out, pulled up
tracked leaders in 3rd, ridden in 2nd before 2 out, kept on and no impression
behind, weakened before 6 out, tailed off 5 out
led to 10th, remained close up, every chance 4 out, mistake 3 out, weakened before last
Bar De Ligne was well backed over course and distance last time but could only stay on at the one pace. Maggio appeared to run out of steam over a longer trip at Kelso in November but still finished 16 lengths ahead of Aneyeforaneye and should have no problem confirming the form. He has fair claims, despite top weight, but Drumlang is up in grade after scoring at Leicester and Wetherby fourth Rudemeister may be a few pounds too high now. STORMING GALE is only a pound higher than when scoring at Ayr last year and suggested his turn wasn't far away again over 3m here last time. He gets the nod, though Mister First has the past form to figure and makes more appeal than risky jumper Palos Conti.
Maggio (FR) 9-2 (10-12) Held up in touch, chased leaders 3rd, every chance 2 out, kept on run-in, no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 2 1/4l behind Kruzhlinin (11-4) at Kelso 2m 7f hcp chs 0-140 (3) gs in Nov.
The Knoxs (IRE) 9-1 (10-12) Jumped badly left, in rear, not fluent 1st, slithered on landing 4th, eased and pulled up before next, in a race won by Kilcrea Asla (9-10) at Haydock 2m 5f hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft in Dec, 7 ran.
Aneyeforaneye (IRE) 15-2 (11-2) Mid-division, headway, 5 out, one paced from 2 out, 6th of 9, 22l behind Noble Legend (11-8) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Dec.
Storming Gale (IRE) 15-8 (11-12) Tracked leaders, chased winner from 3 out, kept on same pace, 2nd of 4, 3 1/2l behind Kealigolane (11-11) at Musselburgh 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Dec.
Rudemeister (IRE) 6-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders in 3rd, weakened 2 out, 4th of 8, 4 1/2l behind Grandads Horse (11-12) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Oct.
Bar De Ligne (FR) 9-2 (10-11) Tracked leaders in 4th, went 3rd before 4 out, ridden before next, kept on same pace, 3rd of 8, 9l behind Mr Moonshine (11-9) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp chs 0-140 (3) sft.
Mister First (FR) 16-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, some progress into 6th 2 out, no extra approaching last, kept on one pace run-in,, 5th of 12, 16l behind Off The Charts (10-12) at Fairyhouse 2m 6f hcp hdl 80-116.
Dorset Naga 8-1 (11-9) Always behind, weakened 4 out, 6th of 9, 37l behind Samingarry (10-13) at Exeter 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Nov.
Drumlang (IRE) 7-2 (11-5) Tracked leaders, closing when left 2nd 3 out, led next, clear last, easily, won at Leicester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in Dec beating Roc De Guye (10-10) by 11l, 9 ran.
Balinroab (IRE) 20-1 (10-7) Always behind, pulled up 3 out, in a race won by Night Alliance (11-0) at Haydock 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft in Dec, 12 ran.
Palos Conti (FR) 5-1 (11-5) Led to 9th, tracked leader, led again 5 out to next, 2 lengths down in clear 2nd when blundered 2 out, kept on same pace, mistake last, well held flat, 2nd of 8, 5l behind Swing Hard (11-2) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Nov.
