made all, pushed along before 2 out, shaken up and in command between last 2, stayed on strongly, unchallenged
hit 6th, always in rear, never a factor, tailed off
raced keenly tracking leaders on inside, closer approaching 8th, went 2nd before 2 out, ridden and edging left when bad mistake last, no chance after
raced out wide chasing leaders, hit 4th and lost place, ridden towards rear and struggling 8th, never on terms after
chased leaders, outpaced 4 out, 4th and struggling when hit next, plugged on
pulled hard and prominent, tracked winner 3rd, hit 5th, mistake 7th, upsides 3 out, lost 2nd and no extra before next
chased winner until 3rd, soon lost place, behind and no chance after
Itsnotwhatyouthink finished 13 lengths behind Annual Invictus at Lingfield but is now 10lb better off with the latter carrying a double penalty. Albert Hucklebuck, another Chris Gordon entry, is making his hurdling debut after finishing second in a Fontwell bumper and DORKING LAD makes more appeal. He was only second when favourite at Market Rasen last Wednesday but that was another step forward and the longer trip here should suit. Promising Milan faced an impossible task at Cheltenham and Norley is another capable of better.
Annual Invictus (IRE) 4-11fav (11-13) Led, headed before 2nd, led narrowly 6th, drew clear before 2 out, comfortably, won at Plumpton 2m (4) sft in Dec beating Mon Petit Cheri (11-0) by 13l, 13 ran.
Albert Hucklebuck (IRE) 11-2 (11-0) Tracked leader, challenged turning for home, led briefly home straight, headed and kept on for second, 2nd of 9, 7l behind Bumpy Johnson (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 2f (5) sft in Oct.
Dorking Lad 7-4fav (11-9) Prominent, mistake 4 out, slipped slightly on bend approaching home straight, still every chance 2 out disputing third, no match for winner last, up for second on line, 2nd of 9, 8 1/2l behind Gortroe Joe (11-12) at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Henschke (IRE) 22-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, jumped slowly and dropped to rear 6th, lost touch 4 out, tailed off when mistake 3 out, unseated rider 2 out, at Newbury 2m 5f (4) sft in Dec.
Itsnotwhatyouthink (IRE) 8-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway to chase leaders 3 out, ridden before 2 out, no extra after last, 3rd of 10, 13l behind Annual Invictus (10-12) at Lingfield 2m (4) hvy in Nov.
Norley (IRE) 11-4jfav (11-2) Prominent, niggled along and mistake 2 out, lost position and kept on at one pace after last, 7th of 11, 31 3/4l behind Lord Accord (11-2) at Fontwell 2m 3f mdn (4) gs in Oct.
Bunny Boru 20-1 (10-5) Prominent, lost place 8th, pushed along before 3 out, plugged on one pace flat, 6th of 12, 13 1/2l behind Game Socks (10-12) at Plumpton 2m 5f mdn (4) gs in Dec.
Promising Milan (IRE) 80-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, weakened after normal 2 out, 7th of 8, 32l behind Make Good (10-12) at Cheltenham 3m (1) sft in Dec.
