held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, ridden before 2 out, no impression
tracked leader, every chance 2 out, kept on and lost 2nd place close home
held up mid-division, pushed along before 3 out, headway before 2 out, kept on to take 2nd place close home, no chance with winner
tracked leaders, ridden before last, kept on same pace
held up towards rear, headway before 2 out, faded run-in
tracked leaders, ridden before last, weakened run-in
held up behind, headway before 3 out, led before 2 out, kept on well
held up and keen, led 3rd, headed 4 out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, pushed along after 4th, hung left and headway from 2 out, kept on same pace
Warren Greatrex won this last year but it's difficult to make a case for his Shantou Bob this time. Uncle Jimmy may need another run while Kayf Moss and Trackmate return fro lay-offs. Board Of Trade tries a new trip and so does El Bandit, though the top weight has won five in a row so can't be ignored. Behind Time and SOLOMN GRUNDY finished 1-2 over 2m5f at Cheltenham and meet on the same terms. But the runner-up pulled much too hard that day and could reverse the form if settling better here under Noel Fehily.
El Bandit (IRE) 6-5fav (11-6) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 6th, soon led, headed off last bend, stayed on flat, led again final 75 yards, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f (2) gd in Oct beating Black Warrior (11-6) by 3/4l, 4 ran.
Uncle Jimmy (IRE) 16-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, mistake and weakened after 3 out, eased before next, 9th of 10, dist behind The Romford Pele (11-12) at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Shantou Bob (IRE) 8-1 (11-9) Held up mid-division, reminders and weakened from 6 out, soon pulled up, at Haydock 2m 7f hcp (1) sft in Nov.
Kayf Moss 4-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, not fluent 7th, challenging when not fluent 11th, every chance when stumbled 2 out, beaten after, one pace flat, 2nd of 6, 5l behind Berea Boru (11-9) at Chepstow 3m hcp (3) hvy in Mar.
Kelvingrove (IRE) 6-1 (11-6) Held up, mid-division, headway after 4 out, went 2nd before 3 out, weakened and lost 3rd from last, 4th of 8, 12 1/2l behind Herbert Park (11-1) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Nautical Nitwit (IRE) 25-1 (11-1) Held up, towards rear, mistake 5th, brought down 5 out, at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Board Of Trade 11-1 (10-12) Held up, towards rear of mid-division when fell 5 out, at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Solomn Grundy (IRE) 16-1 (11-10) Held up in rear, took keen hold, not fluent 4 out, soon closed, 2nd flat, stayed on, no impression on winner, 2nd of 15, 2 1/4l behind Behind Time (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Trackmate 20-1 (11-0) In rear, ridden when clipped heels and stumbled badly just after 3 out, well beaten next, 7th of 10, dist behind Eshtiaal (11-9) at Cartmel 2m 6f hcp (3) gs in Jul.
Behind Time (IRE) 9-2 (11-2) Mid-division, closed from 4 out, challenged 3 out, led and edged left before last, ran green and wandered in front, straightened up flat and ran on well, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Nov beating Solomn Grundy (11-10) by 2 1/4l, 15 ran.
