led and set strong pace, clear with rival, reduced lead 11th (water), reached for 14th and headed, lost 2nd and weakening when mistake 4 out
prominent in chasing group, closer 11th (water), 2nd before 4 out, led going well 2 out, looked to be idling in 1 length lead when left clear at the last
held up, mistake 2nd, behind when hit 12th, tailed off next, pulled up before 14th
badly hampered by faller and nearly unseated rider 1st, behind, jumped slowly 3rd, closer before 17th, ridden and weakened before next
chased clear leading pair until before 12th, chased leaders, weakened 14th, tailed off and pulled up before 16th
on his toes and led in start, well away, chased leader who set strong pace and clear of field, led 1th, went clear after next until 4 out, headed 2 out, chased idling winner and staying on when hampered and fell last
jumped left throughout, held up and off the pace, left remote 4th at the last
held up and off the pace, driven and one pace in 4th from 4 out, left remote 3rd at the last
tracking leaders when fell 1st
hampered 1st, prominent in chasing group, 3rd before 12th until 16th, chased leaders, 3rd again 4 out, well held when left 2nd at the last
While still competitive, this is not the race it once was when the likes of Mill House, Night Nurse and Jodami were winning it. A winner twice last season, Copperhead only had to be pushed out to score at Wincanton earlier this month but is 9lb higher. Cobolobo won over a similar trip at Haydock but probably didn’t beat much. A winner here in 2017, Strong Pursuit started favourite at the track when last seen in March but was never travelling and quickly pulled up so has questions at answer now. POLYDORA is a tricky ride but has bags of ability and has been dropped a further 2lb since a second to the in-form Bafana Blue at Ayr. He has his ground today so gets another chance though Boughtbeforelunch will probably be hard to keep out of the frame again and Moving In Style has a good strike-rate for a jumper.
Strong Pursuit (IRE) 7-2fav (11-8) Led 1st, headed 10th, tracked winner, lost place 15th, weakened quickly and pulled up after next, at Newbury 3m 2f hcp (3) gs in Mar.
Copperhead 6-1 (11-12) Mid-division, hampered 14th, headway 5 out, chased leaders next, led before 2 out, stayed on strongly, won at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in Dec beating Fingerontheswitch (11-8) by 4l, 15 ran.
Polydora (IRE) 15-8 (11-12) Led, headed when blundered badly 3 out, weakening when left in modest 2nd last, 2nd of 5, 26l behind Bafana Blue (11-1) at Ayr 3m hcp (3) hvy in Nov.
Cobolobo (FR) 9-4fav (12-1) Held up, closed 3rd, led 4 out, clear last, stayed on well, won at Haydock 3m 2f hcp (4) sft in Dec beating The Ogle Gogle Man (11-0) by 5l, 7 ran.
Goodnight Charlie 12-1 (11-12) In rear, ridden and struggling after 7th, behind after next, 5th of 6, dist behind Good And Hardy (12-6) at Uttoxeter 2m 7f hcp (4) hvy in Dec.
Indy Five (IRE) 50-1 (12-0) In touch, headway to lead 5th, headed 11th, effort 3 out, soon lost place, pulled up, at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in Dec.
Antony (FR) 25-1 (11-12) Jumped left held up, struggling fro 6th, tailed off when pulled up 2 out, at Sandown 2m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Forgot To Ask (IRE) 25-1 (12-0) Held up towards rear, slightly hampered 10th, headway on outside after 13th, kept on flat, 6th of 13, 2 1/4l behind Don Lami (11-12) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Boughtbeforelunch (IRE) 9-2 (10-13) Tracked leader, led 10th, ridden 3 out, headed approaching last, kept on, 2nd of 8, 2 3/4l behind Le Boizelo (11-2) at Sandown 3m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Moving In Style (IRE) 6-1 (10-11) Led or disputed lead virtually throughout, hit 6th, blundered 5 out, soon pushed along, ridden after 3 out, kept on until no extra and held between last 2, 2nd of 9, 7l behind Perfect Candidate (11-8) at Haydock 3m 4f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
