made all, jumped well, quickened 4 out, driven when strongly challenged after next, left clear 2 out, ran on well
tracked leader, outpaced 3 out, soon hung left, kept on well closing stages
chased leaders, progress to challenge 3 out, every chance when fell 2 out
chasing leaders when fell 4th
Cracking Find has been well beaten in both starts over fences so far and his stable is still struggling for winners. An Laoch stuck on well behind The Happy Chappy at Sedgefield but this huge drop in distance has to be a worry. Roman Numeral won at Southwell in July and was only beaten a head in a driving finish last time at Hexham, though is a massive 18lb out of the handicap. Only four, GRIS DE PRON only weakened approaching the last on his fencing bow at Sedgefield and may well be good enough at the weights here.
Cracking Find (IRE) 11-2 (11-3) Tracked leader, led 5th, headed 4 out, weakened before 2 out, 3rd of 6, 24l behind Popelys Gull (11-3) at Wetherby 2m 3f (4) gd in Oct.
An Laoch (IRE) 7-1 (10-7) In touch in 4th and in rear, went 2nd from 5 out, not fluent 2 out, every chance last, kept on and held towards finish, 2nd of 4, 2 1/4l behind The Happy Chappy (10-8) at Sedgefield 3m 2f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Gris De Pron (FR) 14-1 (11-1) In rear, headway 5th, ridden and weakened before last, 4th of 8, 15 1/2l behind Beggar's Wishes (11-8) at Sedgefield 2m hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Roman Numeral (IRE) 8-1 (10-11) Mid-division, headway 8th, chased leaders 3 out, driven to challenge after next, led after last, soon strongly challenged, headed and no extra towards finish, 3rd of 11, hd behind John Williams (11-10) at Hexham 2m hcp (5) hvy in Oct.
