raced wide, hit 1st, close up, ridden to chase leading trio after 3 out, weakened between last 2
jumped badly right 1st, chased leaders, effort to chase winner and jumped right 2 out, weakened last
hampered 1st, mid-division, jumped slowly 3rd, weakened under pressure after next
mistake and hampered 1st, driven along 4th, always behind
hampered 1st, chased leaders until weakened soon after 3 out
behind, moderate effort before 2 out
hampered 1st, mid-division, headway to chase leaders after 3 out, one pace next
hampered 1st, behind when unseated rider 2nd
held up in rear, headway to chase leaders approaching 2 out, weakened soon after
led to 3rd, chased winner until weakened well before 2 out
hampered 1st, held up in rear, stayed on from 3 out, no danger
hampered 1st, in touch, headway to chase leaders approaching 2 out, chasing winner and 4 lengths down last, strong challenge run-in, just failed
chased leader, led 3rd, ridden about 4 lengths clear when hit last, strongly pressed run-in, just held on
held up in rear, hampered 3rd, well behind when hit 3 out
in touch, lost place after 4th, well behind when blundered and unseated rider 3 out
This may not be as competitive as the numbers suggest with only a few of the 15 runners seemingly having claims and the vote goes to Spidam, who is preferred to Prime Contender and Ostrogoth. The last mentioned is strictly held by Prime Contender on debut running at Warwick last month but Nicky Henderson's French import is entitled to come on for that run and should not be dismissed lightly. Having won that Warwick contest, Prime Contender got no further than the first at Lingfield last week when brought down and has to be respected on earlier form but may struggle under his penalty. The Phillip Hobbs-trained Ortega was a winner on the flat in France and could be of interest on his British debut but is hard to recommend with any confidence, while Garibaldi would need to improve on what he showed first time up over hurdles at Newbury in what was admittedly a better race than this. The vote then goes to the Paul Nicholls-trained Spidam, who showed the benefit of his first outing for new connections when running out the ready winner of a similar contest over course and distance last month. He looked one worth keeping on the right side of that day and is taken to follow up.
Prime Contender 6-4fav (11-4) In touch when brought down in race won by Heathcote (10-12) at Lingfield 2m 3yo nov hdl (D) sft in Dec, 14 ran.
Spidam (FR) 6-4fav (11-4) Tracked leader 3rd, led before 3 out, in command 2 out, soon clear, stayed on well, won at Sandown 2m 3yo nov hdl (D) hvy in Dec beating Kanpai (11-0) by 20l, 8 ran.
Beauchamp Trump 16-1 (8-7) Mid-division, weakened over 4f out, 8th of 9, 41l behind Piper General (8-8) at Southwell 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) fbs in Dec (Flat).
Benedict Bay 16-1 (9-3) Chased leaders, ridden 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 16, 14l behind Whoopsie (8-8) at Nottingham 2m 3yo hcp (6) sft in Jul (Flat).
Garibaldi (GER) 25-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, hit 4th and next, mistake and weakened 2 out, 5th of 12, 26l behind Turko (11-4) at Newbury 2m 3yo nov hdl (C) gd in Nov.
Hereditary 7-4fav (9-2) Slowly into stride, soon chased leader, lost place 7f out, weakened 3f out, 9th of 11, 39l behind Ushindi (9-6) at Catterick 1m 4f 3yo hcp (6) gf in Aug (Flat).
Illuminati 25-1 (9-0) Slowly into stride, soon in touch, ridden over 4f out, weakened over 3f out, 5th of 7, 15l behind Anaamil (8-9) at Haydock 1m 3f 3yo mdn (5) gs in May (Flat).
Isle de Maurice 33-1 (10-12) Chased leaders until weakened 6th, 8th of 11, 31l behind Pace Shot (11-5) at Plumpton 2m 4yo nov hdl (4) sft.
Love Angel (USA) 5-1 (8-4) Chased leader, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 5th of 10, 14l behind Strudel (8-12) at Ayr 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) sft in Oct (Flat).
Love Beauty (USA) 6-1 (8-6) Tracked leader, challenged over 4f out, ridden and effort over 2f out, carried head high and no impression final furlong, 3rd of 7, 9l behind Numero Due (8-13) at Carlisle 1m 6f mdn stk (5) gf in Aug (Flat).
Ortega (FR) (9-10) won at Royan-La Palmyre 1m 2f mdn stk gd in May beating Omix D'or (9-10) by 2 1/2l, 5 ran (Flat).
Ostrogoth (FR) 4-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, led briefly 3rd, stayed prominent and ridden and every chance 2 out, faded approaching last, 3rd of 16, 10l behind Prime Contender (11-0) at Warwick 2m 3yo nov hdl (B) sft in Dec.
Quasimodo (GB) 20-1 (11-0) Held up, pushed along 4th, ridden after 4 out, weakened from 3 out, 5th of 9, 17l behind Ortolan Bleu (11-0) at Wetherby 2m 3yo nov hdl (B) sft in Dec.
Shardakhan (IRE) 66-1 (10-12) Behind, ridden and stayed on same pace from 3 out, no chance when blundered last, 6th of 16, 36l behind Restless D'artaix (11-5) at Newbury 2m 3yo nov hdl (E) gs in Dec.
E Bride (USA) 100-1 (9-12) Held up, never dangerous, tailed off, 11th of 14, well behind Take A Mile (10-7) at Fakenham 2m 3yo mdn hdl (E) gd in Dec.
