mid-division on outside, struggling home turn, tailed off
always towards rear, never a factor
mid-division on inside, not fluent 3rd, headway to go 3rd 3 out, pushed along and could not go pace of leaders 2 out, stayed on well from last for 2nd
mid-division, struggling and dropped towards rear 5th, tailed off
chased leader, going well upsides 3 out, led approaching last, ridden and went clear flat, comfortably
led and clear early, keen throughout, hard pressed 3 out, not fluent 2 out, ridden and headed approaching last, no extra flat and lost 2nd
held up, headway home turn, pushed along and outpaced 3 out, stayed on well from last in distant 4th
This may be a stronger contest than first appears. Piecederesistance will need to improve on his two runs so far over timber but he won over 1m2f on the Flat in July. Matchless has won twice on the level at Doncaster this year but bumper winner Bobby Socks tried to refuse and unseated his rider at the first on his hurdles bow. HIDALGO DE L’ISLE was just beaten in a Sedgefield bumper in May and is bred for jumping so gets the nod.
Big Arthur 200-1 (11-4) Raced out wide chasing leaders, pushed along in 4th after 4 out, weakened before next, 6th of 10, dist behind General Officer (11-4) at Musselburgh 2m mdn (4) gs in Nov.
Bobby Socks 2-1 (11-4) Led at modest pace, awkward and unseated rider 1st, at Uttoxeter 2m mdn (4) gs in Oct.
Call Him Now (IRE) 150-1 (10-12) Prominent when slow 1st, chased leaders, lost place 6th, weakened before 3 out, 9th of 12, dist behind Maximilian (11-0) at Carlisle 2m 4f (4) gs in Oct.
Hidalgo De L'isle (FR) Evensfav (11-2) Led, headed 12f out, led again 4f out, ridden 3 lengths clear 2f out, ridden and hung right entering final furlong, soon joined and headed towards finish, 2nd of 6, 3/4l behind Iltone (10-10) at Sedgefield 2m 1f (5) gd in May.
Konik King (IRE) 40-1 (11-4) Led, ridden and headed bend before straight, soon weakened, pulled up last, at Hexham 2m 4f mdn (4) gs in Oct.
Matchless (IRE) 15-2 (9-6) Led, pushed along and faced challenge over 2f out, soon ridden, headed over 1f out and weakened, 5th of 9, 7l behind Just Fine (9-12) at Leicester 1m 2f hcp (3) gf in Oct.
Piecederesistance (IRE) 14-1 (9-7) Steadied start, in rear, ridden over 2f out, kept on final furlong, never nearer, 5th of 8, 9l behind Turntable (9-10) at Newmarket 1m 2f hcp (3) gs in Oct.
Scottish Wind (FR) 18-1 (9-13) Chased leaders, pushed along well over 1f out, no progress, 4th of 7, 7 3/4l behind Reach (9-8) at Pontefract 1m 4f mdn stks (3) gs in Oct.
