chased clear leader until 5th, hit next, soon weakened, pulled up after
held up in rear, modest 6th and ridden before 3 out, never in contention
mid-division, not fluent 3rd, ridden 6th, well held 3 out, went 4th latter stages
held up towards rear, not fluent and headway on inside 6th, went 2nd after 3 out and closing, led last, edged left flat, stayed on
held up in rear, headway on outside 5th, went 2nd next, mistake 6th, closed 3 out, weakened next
tracked leaders, ridden after 3rd, lost place next, behind 6th, tailed off
chased leaders, weakened after 6th, tailed off
held up in rear, not always fluent, behind 6th, tailed off
led and soon clear, 25 lengths ahead when not fluent 4th or 5th, reduced advantage 3 out, mistake and headed lasst, not much room and switched right flat, no extra
mid-division, headway after 6th, went 3rd after 3 out, stayed on same pace from next
Balnagore was a long way behind when Sheriff Hall won this 12 months ago. George Charlton's six-year-old is 6lb higher now but should be all the better for a recent run at Hexham and has to go on the short-list again. Amazing Star was a cosy winner at Uttoxeter last time and may be capable of even better if brushing up his jumping. He should also go close and makes more appeal than Fakenham second Catawollow and the luckless King's Chorister. Capricornus is tried in blinkers after disappointing so far this term but has to give weight to PARC DES PRINCES. Suited by sharp tracks, he's twice gone close off his new mark since winning at Bangor in August and deserves a change of luck.
Talk of Saafend (IRE) 17-2 (10-7) Took keen hold tracked leaders, went 2nd after 4 out, about 2 lengths down and held when fell last, in a race won by D'Gigi (10-12) at Musselburgh 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gd, 8 ran.
Ergo (FR) 25-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, never dangerous, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Teenage Idol (11-9) at Ayr 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Jan, 17 ran.
Capricornus (USA) 8-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, driven approaching 5th, weakened 3 out, 5th of 8, 34l behind Second Brook (11-1) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl (5) gs.
Parc Des Princes (USA) 13-8fav (11-2) Held up, not fluent 4th, mistake next, soon ridden, closed 3 out, kept on towards finish, went 3rd post, 3rd of 7, 1 1/4l behind Man In Black (11-11) at Ludlow 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in Oct.
Amazing Star (IRE) 7-2 (10-11) Held up towards rear and keen, tracked leaders before and hit 3 out, led before last, kept on, won at Uttoxeter 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gs beating Bob's Dream (11-7) by 3 1/2l, 11 ran.
Balnagore 20-1 (10-12) Held up mid-division, weakened 3rd, pulled up next, in a race won by Flaygray (10-12) at Kelso 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd, 16 ran.
Roll Over Rose (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) Towards rear, reminders after 4th, soon struggling, pulled up before last, in a race won by Sydney Cove (11-0) at Hexham 2m hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft, 11 ran.
Catawollow 16-1 (10-12) In touch, went 2nd 6th, hampered and led 3 out, soon ridden, pressed approaching last, headed towards finish, 2nd of 6, 1l behind White Diamond (11-7) at Fakenham 2m nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd.
Sheriff Hall (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) Led, headed before 2 out, soon weakened, 6th of 11, 39l behind Sydney Cove (11-0) at Hexham 2m hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft.
King's Chorister 7-1 (11-0) Held up mid-division, headway before 2 out, ridden and weakened before last, 5th of 11, 16l behind Sydney Cove (11-0) at Hexham 2m hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft.