held up in touch, headway approaching 5th, hanging left under pressure and weakened before 2 out
took keen hold tracking leaders, went 2nd 3rd, led before 2 out, ridden between last 2, headed last, edged left and kept on same pace flat
took keen hold, not fluent 1st, held up in last pair, not fluent 5th, smooth headway after 3 out, went 2nd going well 2 out, pecked on landing, rallied to lead last, kept on well and ridden out flat
tracked leader, led briefly 2nd, led again 3rd, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, soon dropped to 3rd, hit last, kept on same pace flat
held up last, weakened 3 out, soon well behind, blundered last
led until, headed briefly 2nd, mistake and headed 3rd, soon ridden in 3rd, weakened 5th, tailed off next, pulled up before 2 out
took keen hold tracking leaders in 4th, went 2nd and challenged 5th, weakened before 2 out, went left last
held up in 6th, headway on outside approaching 3 out, pushed along approaching next, driven and no extra in 4th between last 2
Sweet Deal, a winner twice on the Flat for Jeremy Noseda, should be closely monitored in the market on his first start for Nicky Henderson but VIOLET DANCER probably sets a decent standard. He beat a Paul Nicholls' hot-pot very easily at Plumpton and is likely to improve further. Abracadabra Sivola has his sights lowered after contesting a Grade 2 at Cheltenham and will relish the uphill finish here. He's preferred to Sirop De Menthe, having his first run since August, and last month's Bangor winner Sleepy Haven. Mandy's Boy can step up on his fourth at Wetherby and looks best of the rest.
Sirop De Menthe (FR) 2-5fav (11-5) Held up in touch in last, went left on landing 2nd, went 2nd after 4th, not fluent 3 out, soon ridden, no impression before 2 out, soon hanging left and well held, 2nd of 4, 13l behind Lindenhurst (10-9) at Bangor 2m 1f 3yo hdl (4) gd in Aug.
Sleepy Haven (IRE) 11-4 (10-12) Tracked leader, led before 2 out, ridden before last and not fluent, kept on well, won at Bangor 2m 1f 3yo mdn hdl (5) sft in Nov beating Green And White (10-12) by 6l, 6 ran.
Violet Dancer 7-2 (10-12) Mid-division, headway 5th, not fluent next, went 2nd going well after 3 out, led next, drawing clear when hit last, easily, won at Plumpton 2m 3yo hdl (4) sft in Nov beating Aldopicgros (10-12) by 10l, 7 ran.
Abracadabra Sivola (FR) 33-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders on inside, outpaced before 3 out, soon lost place, no chance with leaders from next, 5th of 7, 24l behind Royal Irish Hussar (11-6) at Cheltenham 2m 3yo hdl Grd 2 (1) gd in Nov.
Classic Art 25-1 (8-13) Mid-division, reminders and lost place 4f out, soon rear, virtually pulled up final 2f, tailed off, last of 10, 38l behind Orbison (9-5) at Windsor 1m 3yo hcp 0-70 (5) gf in Jun (flat).
Dude Alert (IRE) 66-1 (10-12) Pressed leader, no impression on winner when jumped left and not fluent 2 out, well held when mistake last, 2nd of 5, 33l behind Kentucky Hyden (10-12) at Sandown 2m 3yo hdl (3) hvy in Nov.
Mandy's Boy (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Held up behind, headway before 3 out, switched left before last, kept on same pace, 4th of 8, 13l behind Rutherglen (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 3yo mdn hdl (5) gs in Nov.
Sweet Deal (IRE) 4-1 (8-12) Held up towards rear, pushed along over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, headway over 1f out, edged right and went 2nd inside final furlong, ran on, 2nd of 9, nk behind Gone Dutch (8-10) at Kempton 1m 3f 3yo hcp 0-90 (3) pol in Oct (flat).
