held up in touch, chased leaders 16th, outpaced 5 out, soon ridden, went 2nd 3 out, weakened before last
held up in touch, tracked leaders 10th, mistake 13th, driven before 4 out, weakened and pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders, struggling 13th, rallied briefly before 4 out, weakened and pulled up before 2 out
held up behind, struggling when blundered 13th and again 15th, rallied to chase leaders before 4 out, disputed 2nd and chance when blundered last, kept on, held flat
led to 3rd, tracked leader, led again narrowly 7th, made most after, driven 3 out, ridden and kept on under pressure flat, held on towards finish
tracked leaders, disputed lead 13th, lost place 4 out, soon ridden, went 2nd again last, stayed on to press winner flat, held towards finish
tracked leaders, hit 5th, reminders after 10th, lost place next, soon behind, pulled up before 6 out
with winner, led 3rd to 7th, remained close up, driven 13th, blundered 16th, kept on until ridden and no extra in 4th flat
Silvergrove was desperately unlucky at Sandown at the start of the month as he was in front and travelling best when his saddle slipped and he lost his rider after jumping the last. It seems terribly unfair to put him up 7lb for that but he should still make a bold bid for compensation. However, BELMOUNT has shown himself to be a stout stayer and, dropped a couple of pounds since his latest third over course and distance, can get back to winning ways. Cloudy Copper still has plenty of weight considering he's yet to win over fences but the consistent Henllan Harri can't be ignored and Big Society and Amidon arrive off the back of respective recent victories at Chepstow and Fontwell.
Cloudy Copper (IRE) 4-1 (11-9) Held up behind, mistake 9th, tracked leaders 12th, not fluent 4 out, soon outpaced, ridden before 2 out, stayed on to take modest 2nd after last, no chance with easy winner, 2nd of 7, 11l behind Bob Ford (11-12) at Ffos Las 3m 1f hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Belmount (IRE) 9-1 (11-12) Held up in touch in mid-division, mistake and lost place 7th, not fluent 10th, closed 16th, one pace from 3 out, went 3rd flat, 3rd of 9, 10 1/4l behind Harry's Farewell (11-8) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Henllan Harri (IRE) Evensfav (11-10) Led, jumped right throughout, headed approaching 4 out, kept on under pressure, no chance with winner, 2nd of 4, 13l behind Voix D'eau (11-4) at Ffos Las 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Big Society (IRE) 7-1 (11-9) Behind, headway 13th, chased leaders 4 out, driven to lead last, kept on well closing stages, won at Chepstow 3m hcp (4) hvy in Nov beating Smart Exit (11-5) by 2 3/4l, 11 ran.
Silvergrove 9-2 (11-0) Led, driven 2 out, 2 lengths advantage last, staying on when stirrup leather slipped and rider became unbalanced after last, not recover and unseated rider flat, at Sandown 3m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Amidon (FR) 4-1 (11-8) Tended to jump right, led and set steady pace, ridden and headed 2 out, soon dropped to 3rd, rallied into 2nd approaching the last where went right and bumped, driven to lead again run-in, won at Fontwell 2m 5f hcp (4) sft in Dec beating Vic De Touzaine (11-8) by 1l, 6 ran.
Coolking 14-1 (10-4) Led, hit 8th, headed approaching 14th, weakened under pressure next, lost touch approaching 4 out, tailed off and pulled up before next, at Fontwell 3m 1f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Arbeo (IRE) 8-1 (10-4) Chased leaders, jumped slowly and reminder 6th, lost place 10th, tailed off and pulled up before 15th, at Ascot 3m hcp (3) sft in Nov.