led, headed after 7th, regained lead before 4 out, soon ridden and headed, weakened thereafter
in rear, mistake and unseated rider 8th
mid-division, not fluent 9th, pushed along 4 out, blundered 3 out and weakened thereafter
mid-division, pushed along from 5 out, could not go pace of leaders from 3 out, blundered last and no extra
held up, pushed along and outpaced 4 out, keeping on approaching last, went distant 3rd run-in
chased leader, not fluent 9th, ridden to dispute lead 3 out, every chance last when narrowly behind, stayed on strongly flat, got up on line
handy, led after 7th, headed before 4 out, on terms again 3 out, narrowly ahead last, stayed on well flat, just denied on line
Road Warrior is only a pound higher than when winning at Sedgefield on Boxing Day last year. He weakened quickly on his reappearance at Carlisle but this is a lesser contest and he’ll strip fitter today. Jelski has only raced twice over fences so far and placed in both and Creative Control is similarly unexposed though it might be significant that Brian Hughes switches to the returning HEROIQUE DE MAULDE, who won twice in France and starts off in this country on a potentially-lenient mark. Hidden Commander was disappointing last time at Bangor.
Road Warrior 12-1 (12-0) Made most, not fluent 11th, headed next, weakened before 3 out, last of 7, 37 3/4l behind Cooper's Cross (12-0) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Oct.
Jelski (GER) 6-1 (12-0) Close up in rear, went 3rd at 6th, joined leader 2 out, ridden and every chance next, no extra flat, 3rd of 5, 16 3/4l behind Green Vault (11-8) at Hexham 3m hcp (4) sft in Oct.
Mister Bells (IRE) 10-1 (11-0) Prominent, led and disputed before 3rd, headed after 5th, slightly slow 9th, 2nd halfway, ridden and no extra after 3 out, weakened, 8th of 9, 30 3/4l behind Pat Coyne (11-3) at Tramore 2m 6f hcp gd in Aug.
Creative Control (IRE) 11-1 (11-7) Towards rear, ridden and some late headway from 2 out, never a danger, 5th of 11, 7l behind Arizona Cardinal (12-0) at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Oct.
Arthur's Quay (IRE) 9-1 (11-10) In rear, went 3rd 8th, ridden after 3 out, weakened in 4th from 2 out, went 3rd close home, 3rd of 5, 19 1/2l behind Bempton Cliffs (10-12) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp (4) gs in Oct.
Hidden Commander (IRE) 6-1 (12-0) Disputed lead, headed and tracked leader 14th, ridden after 2 out, weakened before last, 5th of 8, 26 1/4l behind Diegos Way (10-12) at Bangor-on-Dee 3m hcp (4) gs in Oct.
Heroique De Maulde (FR) (10-8) Chased leaders, good headway to lead 3 out, ran on, won at Mont De Marsan 2m 3f gd in Nov beating Lion De Lisboa (10-10) by 1l, 9 ran.
