in touch in mid-division, headway into 3rd before 7th, ridden and lost 3rd before 2 out, weakened
held up in last pair, making headway on outside when not fluent 7th and pushed along, weakened after 3 out, pulled up soon after
led until after 4th, chased leader, blundered and weakened 3 out, soon lost touch, tailed off and pulled up soon after
held up in mid-division, lost place and dropped towards rear approaching 7th, renewed effort tracking leaders 3 out, 3rd traveling ok before 2 out, ridden and one pace between last 2
took keen hold, held up and behind, closer approaching 5th, headway on outside into modest 4th before 2 out, weakened into 5th run-in
tracked leaders, awkward 4th, went 2nd after 3 out, challenged 2 out, soon led, ridden clear when hit last, idled run-in, driven out
tracked leading pair, 2nd before 7th, bumped after 9th, led 3 out, joined 2 out, soon headed, chased winner, held before last, driven and stayed on same pace run-in
pressed leader, led after 4th, blundered 9th and went left, headed 3 out, chased leaders, pushed along and weakened after 3 out, tailed off
took keen hold early, held up towards rear, dropped to last approaching 5th, struggling in rear when stumbled 8th, plugged on under pressure when not fluent 2 out, went never nearer 4th run-in
NonRunner
Placed over fences last time, Rainy City can race off the same mark as when second over hurdles at Newton Abbot before that. Sirop De Menthe won in soft ground at Ffos Las recently and Blue Rambler returned a cosy winner at Wetherby, though has a 9lb hike in the weights to contend with here. SOME KINDA LAMA looks the most progressive having followed a maiden hurdle victory with a comfortable four-length success over 3m1f at Hereford - Charlie Mann’s charge should make another bold bid in this. Arctic Gold should be sharper for last month’s return at Cheltenham but Fingal Bay cut little ice back over timber at the same meeting.
Fingal Bay (IRE) 8-1 (11-11) Tracked leaders, disputed 2nd 3 out, driven and lost place after next, one pace before last, no impression, 6th of 13, 26 1/2l behind Anteros (10-2) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp lst (1) sft in Nov.
Prince Of Steal (IRE) 9-2 (11-3) Left in lead 1st, pressed 4 out, ridden and headed soon after 2 out, held in 3rd when fell last, at Fakenham 3m (3) sft in Nov.
Killala Quay 18-1 (10-11) Prominent, slow 2nd, lost place after 13th, behind when pulled up 4 out, at Ascot 3m hcp (1) gd in Oct.
Rainy City (IRE) 5-2 (11-4) Tracked leaders in 3rd, went 2nd from 10th, kept on and no impression with winner, 2nd of 4, 14l behind Emerging Force (11-4) at Hereford 2m 5f (4) gd in Oct.
Sirop De Menthe (FR) 12-1 (11-10) Keen, held up, headway 3 out, pressed leader from next, ridden to lead narrowly last, all out, won at Ffos Las 2m 6f hcp (3) sft in Nov beating Red Devil Lads (11-7) by hd, 7 ran.
Arctic Gold (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) Tracked leader, led after 3 out, hit next, headed approaching last, weakened flat, 6th of 16, 13 3/4l behind Clondaw Cian (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Some Kinda Lama (IRE) 5-4fav (11-5) Jumped left, made all, ridden approaching last, stayed on well, won at Hereford 3m 2f hcp (3) gd in Oct beating Benenden (11-4) by 3 3/4l, 5 ran.
Chartbreaker (FR) 33-1 (10-0) Pushed along to track leaders, ridden over 4f out, weakened 3f out, 8th of 9, 18 3/4l behind Velvet Revolution (8-10) at Chelmsford City 2m hcp (4) pol in Nov.
Bugsie Malone (IRE) 9-1 (11-12) Led, headed before 3 out, lost 2nd from last, weakened and lost 3rd place towards finish, 4th of 15, 13 1/4l behind Court King (10-11) at Chepstow 3m hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Blue Rambler 11-8fav (11-6) Tracked leaders, headway on inside, bypassing omitted 3 out, soon challenged, led going well before last, ridden clear flat, ran on (1 flight omitted), won at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Oct beating Kalondra (11-9) by 3 1/2l, 12 ran.
