in rear, not fluent 3rd, well behind after 6th
chased leaders, not fluent 1st, soon lost place, in rear when mistake 4th, well behind 6th, pulled up before 3 out
prominent until before 3 out, no extra from 2 out
led, not always fluent, headed after 3rd, led again 5th, headed after next, outpaced by leaders from 3 out
held up, outpaced after 5th, never dangerous, well beaten before 3 out
chased leaders, went prominent 2nd, led after 6th, not fluent 2 out, headed before last, no impression on winner final 100 yards, lost 2nd close home
prominent, led after 3rd, headed and bumped 5th, outpaced 3 out, plugged on flat
chased leaders until 6th, soon weakened, pulled up before 3 out
held up towards rear, not fluent 3rd or 4th, headway after 6th, 3rd 3 out, stayed on flat, went 2nd close home, no impression on winner
held up in rear, not fluent 3rd, headway after 6th, went 2nd 3 out, switched left after 2 out, led before last, edged left flat, clear final 100 yards, ran on well
A winner at Bangor in November, Wilcos Mo Chara returns from a short break having disappointed last time but it's too soon to write him off. Ginger Jack and Silver Duke are both unexposed over hurdles and have gone well here before but CLAUDE CARTER (NAP) is preferred. The course regular has won twice over track and trip and can be forgiven his latest below par effort over a longer distance. Alistair Whillans' charge can return to winning ways with both Star Date and Red Inca struggling for form at present.
Passage Vendome (FR) 33-1 (10-4) Towards rear, never a factor, no extra approaching 2 out, 13th of 16, 32l behind Portrade (10-0) at Listowel 2m hcp hdl gd in Sep.
Wilcos Mo Chara (IRE) 5-2fav (11-5) Led, mistake 2nd, headed after 3 out, ridden and weakened from next, 4th of 10, 25l behind Smooth Stepper (10-7) at Sedgefield 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gs in Dec.
Sparville (IRE) 50-1 (11-3) Held up in rear, some headway 7th, never on terms, well beaten after 3 out, 10th of 12, 30l behind Dewala (11-8) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs.
Slipper Satin (IRE) 28-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, reminders 5 out, tailed off 2 out, last of 13, well behind Teo Vivo (11-9) at Kelso 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (4) sft in Dec.
Cool Baranca (GER) 100-1 (10-10) Tracked leader, lost place from 4 out, tailed off, last of 5, well behind Glingerburn (11-3) at Kelso 2m 2f hdl (2) gs.
Red Inca 8-1 (10-13) Led, headed 3 out, soon beaten, lost 2nd place before last, 5th of 7, 21l behind Knight In Purple (10-10) at Doncaster 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (4) sft in Dec.
Claude Carter 14-1 (11-6) Chased leaders and keen, weakened from 2 out, 4th of 10, 21l behind Always Tipsy (11-4) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Jan.
Star Date (IRE) 22-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear and keen, headway before 5 out, ridden before 2 out, soon weakened, 5th of 7, 16l behind Stylish Chap (11-7) at Musselburgh 2m mdn hdl (5) gs in Jan.
Ginger Jack 10-1 (11-1) Held up in rear, hampered 1st, headway on outside 4th, ridden and one pace 2 out, no impression on leading pair, 3rd of 10, 14l behind Three Faces West (11-4) at Ayr 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Silver Duke (IRE) 16-1 (10-5) In rear, headway before 3 out, went 3rd before last, one pace, 3rd of 9, 6l behind Streets Of Newyork (11-3) at Musselburgh 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Jan.
