tracked leading pair, ridden after 3 out, went 2nd soon after 2 out, hung left and strong challenge run-in, just failed
made all, ridden and pressed when hung left run -in, held on gamely, all out
tracked leaders early until jumped slowly and lost place 4th, hit next, never on terms after, blundered 9th, weakened after 4 out, tailed off
held up last, went remote 5th 3 out, never a factor, tailed off
chased winner, awkward 7th (water), ridden and held when mistake and pecked 2 out, lost 2nd soon after, weakened into 4th before the last
held up in 5th, closer at 3rd, pushed along and one pace in 4th after 4 out, plugged on into 3rd before the last, no chance with 1st 2
Darebin won this last year and tried to make all here last month. A winner earlier at Kempton, he was only headed after jumping the last but improving winner JOHNBB appeared to idle on the run-in and had more in hand than the official margin suggests so can confirm the form on 6lb worse terms. Locker Room Talk swerved a novice chase at Hereford yesterday to contest for this more lucrative prize and has to be respected while Delire D'Estruval probably needed his run at Ascot and did win over 2m4f here last March. American Tom lacks a recent run and this looks much too competitive for Finnegan's Garden.
Delire D'Estruval (FR) 14-1 (11-5) Chased leader until 6th, chased leaders, went 2nd again 8th until pushed along before 3 out, chased leaders, mistake and weakened 2 out, 7th of 12, 27 1/2l behind Espoir De Guye (10-11) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
Locker Room Talk (IRE) 5-1 (11-4) Soon led and went well clear, hit 4 out, wandered run-in, stayed on strongly, unchallenged, won at Taunton 2m 2f hcp (3) sft in Dec beating Admiral's Secret (11-1) by 7l, 12 ran.
Johnbb (IRE) 6-4fav (11-11) Close up, tracked leaders 3 out, ridden to lead on landing last, ran on, won at Sandown 2m hcp (3) gs in Dec beating Paddy's Poem (11-12) by 3 1/4l, 10 ran.
American Tom (FR) 11-8fav (10-12) Tracked winner, jumped left 6th, ridden 2 out, outpaced by winner approaching last, lost 2nd flat, 3rd of 7, 8 1/4l behind Movie Set (11-5) at Fakenham 2m (5) gd in May.
Darebin (GER) 10-1 (11-8) Led 3rd, 3 lengths clear 3 out, ridden and headed on landing last, kept on one pace, 3rd of 10, 4 1/4l behind Johnbb (11-11) at Sandown 2m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Finnegan's Garden (IRE) 5-1 (11-8) Held up on inside, closed 5th, ridden 4 out, chased 2 out, lost 2nd and one pace flat, 3rd of 8, 4 1/4l behind Little Light (12-0) at Leicester 2m hcp (4) sft in Dec.
