mid-division, headway after 4th, soon chasing leaders, ridden to challenge 2 out, soon one pace
chased leaders, led 4th, headed before 3 out, soon weakened
held up in rear, pushed along approaching 9th, weakened 11th
raced in rear, mistake 6th, headway 3 out, ridden to challenge next, stayed on under pressure from last, never reached winner
chased leaders, hard driven approaching 8th, under pressure 11th, weakened before 3 out
held up in touch, smooth headway before 4 out, led before next, strongly challenged from 2 out, stayed on well under pressure
refused to race
mid-division, under pressure after 4 out, soon beaten
tracked leaders, pushed along 7th, gradually lost place, behind when pulled up before 2 out
led until 4th, remained prominent, effort after 3 out, weakened next
pulled hard in rear, headway 4 out, soon chasing leaders, never able to challenge
Englishtown's form has gone to pieces since finishing second at Bangor in August, while Prince Louis is becoming increasingly difficult to predict. Gentleman Jimmy has never fulfilled early potential and, like The Red Laird and Unoitmakessense, fitness may be an issue here after a lay-off. The mare Tiger Line has her stamina to prove so the vote goes to MASSINI MOON, who is confidently expected to reverse Huntingdon form with both Earl Of Thomond and Ramvaswani over this much longer trip.
The Red Laird 9-1 (10-10) With winner, mistake 4th, lost place 6th, 4th and under pressure when mistake 4 out, no danger after, 4th of 8, 26l behind Pistol Desbois (11-5) at Plumpton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Apr.
Prince Louis (FR) 5-2 (11-9) Led, jumped left and headed 8th, blundered 11th, soon weakened, pulled up after 3 out, in a race won by Kappelhoff (10-6) at Fontwell 2m 6f cnd hcp chs (0-95) (5) hvy in Nov, 4 ran.
Englishtown (FR) 33-1 (10-10) In touch until badly hampered 3rd, reminders after 5th, well beaten after next, tailed off, 9th of 13, well behind I've Been Framed (11-10) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Nov.
Massini Moon (IRE) 7-2fav (10-1) Held up mid-division, headway to go 2nd approaching 9th, challenged after 10th, soon every chance, no extra after last, 2nd of 12, 4 1/2l behind Prince Tom (11-7) at Taunton 3m nov hcp 0-115 (4) gd in Nov.
Manadam (FR) 10-1 (10-11) Led until ridden before 9th, weakened 3 out, tailed off, 6th of 12, 36l behind Bellflower Boy (11-4) at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Nov.
Gentleman Jimmy 7-4fav (11-9) Tracked leaders, effort 4 out, soon ridden, stayed on same pace from next, no impresssion, 3rd of 4, 15l behind Backfromthecongo (11-7) at Ffos Las 3m nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in Apr.
Ramvaswani (IRE) 40-1 (10-4) Refused to race, in a race won by Henry Hook (11-5) at Towcester 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Nov, 17 ran.
Unoitmakessense (IRE) 3-1 (12-0) Gd hdwy 11; blun 3 out; led nr fin, won at Dingley 3m ptp in May beating Miss Bobsleigh (11-7) by 1/2l, 11 ran.
Tiger Line 11-4fav (11-7) Took keen hold, in touch on inside, headway to 3rd at 6th, stayed on to moderate 2nd last, never any chance with unchallenged winner, 2nd of 10, 16l behind Najca De Thaix (11-10) at Chepstow 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Nov.
Earl Of Thomond (IRE) 16-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, lost place 2nd, headway when not fluent 7th, not fluent 3 out, went 2nd flat, no chance with winner, 2nd of 12, 16l behind Just The Job (10-10) at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Nov.
Royaume Bleu (FR) 33-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, some headway before 2 out, never on terms, tailed off, 7th of 14, 48l behind Salpierre (11-9) at Warwick 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs in Nov.
