chased leaders, short of room on inside on bend after 4 out, went 2nd before 2 out, led and edged right before last, rider lost iron and stayed on strongly run-in
chased leader until pushed along before 3 out, weakened before next
raced keenly, made most until 3 out, chased leaders, weakened before mistake last
awkward and reminders 1st and 4th, always behind, tailed off
raced keenly, tracked leaders, led 3 out, headed before last, soon switched right, ridden and stayed on same pace run-in
mid-division, headway on outside chasing leaders 5th, 2nd going well before 3 out where every chance, hung left and lost 2nd before 2 out, 3rd and held when stumbled badly 2 out, blundered last
mid-division, pushed along and no impression before 3 out, ridden and weakened before next
pulled hard early, soon steadied into mid-division, dropped towards rear and pushed along before 4th, hung badly left before 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off and pulled up before last
held up in mid-division, headway on inside before 3 out, chased leaders before next, ridden and weakened rapidly between last 2, pulled up before last
Winning pointer Mr Whipped made a successful start under Rules at Kempton but this is a much tougher assignment conceding weight to some equally-promising novices. Stablemate Wallace Spirit has a jumping pedigree and Gowiththeflow, who has also won between the flags, was only beaten a head at Chepstow. Voie Dans Voie can only improve on his third at Lingfield while Warthog and Book of Gold have hinted at ability. MELROSE BOY has no penalty for easily winning a Cheltenham conditionals’ handicap. Placed behind some useful novices last season, he looks to have improved over the summer and can win again.
Mr Whipped (IRE) 2-9fav (10-12) Jumped well, made all, pushed along before 2 out, in command between last 2, pushed readily clear run-in, unchallenged, won at Kempton 2m (4) gs in Nov beating Ashkoul (10-12) by 4 1/2l, 3 ran.
Almost Gold (IRE) 100-1 (11-0) Mid-division, lost place 3 out, soon outpaced and behind, tailed off, 9th of 10, dist behind On The Blind Side (11-0) at Aintree 2m 4f mdn (4) gs in Oct.
Bardista (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, ridden and outpaced after 6th, well behind next, tailed off, 10th of 11, dist behind Enniscoffey Oscar (10-12) at Doncaster 2m 5f (4) gs in Dec.
Book of Gold (IRE) 6-1 (10-12) In touch, headway on inside chasing leaders 8th, modest 3rd at the last, 3rd of 8, 20 1/4l behind Tikkanbar (10-12) at Plumpton 2m 5f (4) gs in Nov.
Boss Mans Ladder (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) In touch, weakened 4 out, soon behind, tailed off, 7th of 9, 34 1/2l behind Santini (10-12) at Newbury 2m 5f (3) sft in Dec.
Gowiththeflow (IRE) 6-1 (11-0) Led, ridden before last, headed close home, 2nd of 16, hd behind Chooseyourweapon (11-0) at Chepstow 2m 3f mdn (5) sft in Nov.
Melrose Boy (FR) 11-4fav (11-10) Mid-division on outside, headway after 4 out, soon tracked leaders, challenged 2 out, led between last 2, stayed on well, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Nov beating Charlie's Charm (10-9) by 6l, 19 ran.
Voie Dans Voie (FR) 13-2 (10-12) Mid-division, headway on inside chasing leaders after 6th, left in 4th place 2 out, 3rd and one pace before the last, 3rd of 14, 15l behind Jabulani (10-12) at Lingfield 2m 3f (3) sft in Nov.
Wallace Spirit (FR) 7-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, pushed along and struggling halfway, kept on final 2f, never nearer, 7th of 15, 12 1/2l behind Nestor Park (11-0) at Ascot 2m (4) gs in Nov.
Warthog (FR) 9-4fav (10-12) Tracked leader, led after 5th, headed 3 out, lost 2nd and weakened flat, 3rd of 14, 12 1/4l behind The Russian Doyen (10-12) at Exeter 2m 1f (4) sft in Dec.
