mistake 1st, always well in rear, tailed off
always well in rear, tailed off 3 out
set good pace and soon clear, 12 lengths and travelling well 2 out, weakened approaching last, no extra and headed final 100yds
prominent and chasing group, weakened after 3 out
towards rear, some headway under pressure after 3 out, 5th and no chance when jumped left 2 out and weakened
keen hold, chased clear leader, mistake 7th, pushed along after 3 out, soon weakened
keen hold and held up towards rear, hit 4th, steady headway from 3 out to chase clear leader before 2 out where not fluent, closed approaching last, driven ahead final 100yds
chased clear leading trio, went 3rd before 2 out, no chance and tired when jumped badly right last
mid-division, weakened before 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before next
mid-division, weakened before 3 out, soon tailed off
in touch and chasing group until lost place and dropped to last after 5th, soon tailed off, pulled up before 2 out
towards rear, ridden and plugged on from after 3 out, never a danger
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Miko de Beauchene gets a tentative vote over Nor'nor'east, with Jalou De'Estruval, Mouseski and Moscow Whisper just three more with claims in a wide-open contest. Miko de Beauchene duly made a winning return when ploughing through the heavy ground to score at Lingfield last month, with Jalou De'Estruval seven lengths away in second. At today's weights the runner-up is entitled to get a lot closer to the selection, but the way that Robert Alner's charge travelled throughout at the Surrey track suggests that there is more to come, and he should be up to defying a penalty. Mouseski let his supporters down at Cheltenham last time when never getting into it until it was all over, and it is hoped that he will be kept a bit nearer the pace this time. Moscow Whisper has failed to get round on each of his last two outings but one has to say that he has been unlucky both times. He was going well in the lead when unseating his pilot two out at Chepstow on his return, and got no further than the first when coming to grief at Exeter a month ago. Given a bit of time to recover, he has the ability to take a hand in the finish as well, but with conditions pretty testing we return to Miko de Beauchene as the answer.
Mythical King (IRE) 33-1 (10-13) Chased leaders, ridden 3 out, soon weakened, 8th of 13, 25l behind The Market Man (11-10) at Newbury 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (B) gd in Nov.
Migwell (FR) 50-1 (10-7) Chased leaders until approaching 3rd, behind from 5th, 9th of 10, 31l behind Manorson (10-9) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl 0-145 (A) gd in Nov.
Nonantais (FR) 50-1 (10-4) Led and clear to 6th, headed after 9th, ridden 3 out, weakened 2 out, 7th of 14, 16l behind St Matthew (11-4) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp hdl (B) gs in Nov.
Derivative (IRE) 25-1 (10-3) Tracked leaders, ridden 9th, soon weakened, 9th of 18, 16l behind Kivotos (10-6) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp hdl (B) gd in May '04.
Miko de Beauchene (FR) 5-1 (11-8) Held up, headway, tracked leader from next, led and jumped left last 2, ridden clear flat, won at Lingfield 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-115 (D) hvy in Nov beating Jaloux d'Estruval (11-12) by 7l, 8 ran.
Moscow Whisper (IRE) 11-4fav (11-4) Stumbled and unseated rider in race won by Saffron Sun (10-9) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp chs 0-125 (D) gs in Nov, 11 ran.
Nor'nor'east (IRE) 13-8 (11-5) Chased leaders, ridden approaching 2 out, challenged flat, not quicken, 2nd of 16, 2l behind Mr Pointment (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 3f nh nov hdl (E) gs in Nov.
Anatar (IRE) 25-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, some headway approaching 3 out, never near leaders, 8th of 24, 29l behind Water King (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f cnd hcp hdl 0-115 (E) gs in Nov.
Totally Scottish 10-1 (11-2) Mid-division, outpaced 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 12, 16l behind Jethro Tull (9-12) at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (D) gs in Nov.
Dubai Ace (USA) 33-1 (11-4) Held up in touch, headway 4 out, every chance next, weakened approaching last, 6th of 19, 16l behind All Star (11-7) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gd in Nov.
Apollo Theatre 8-1 (11-8) Held up towards rear, headway after 6th, ridden and weakened 3 out, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by He's A Leader (11-3) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gd in Nov, 9 ran.
Danse Macabre (IRE) 5-1 (11-6) Held up, in rear, smooth headway after 3 out, chased winner approaching 2 out, held near finish, 2nd of 10, 1l behind Harley (11-2) at Sandown 2m 4f cnd hcp hdl 0-105 (E) gs in Nov.
Mouseski 4-1fav (11-1) Chased leaders, under pressure 3 out, one pace from next, 4th of 24, 15l behind Water King (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f cnd hcp hdl 0-115 (E) gs in Nov.
Etendard Indien (FR) 10-1 (10-12) Mid-division until weakened approaching 3 out, behind when pulled up at the last in race won by Admiral (11-7) at Chepstow 2m 4yo hcp hdl (B) gs in Oct, 12 ran.
Jaloux d'Estruval (FR) 5-2 (11-12) Held up, headway to track leading pair after 3 out, chased winner 2 out, no impression before last, 2nd of 8, 7l behind Miko de Beauchene (11-8) at Lingfield 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-115 (D) hvy in Nov.
