raced keenly, soon tracking leader, pushed along and lost 2nd before 3 out, plugged on in moderate 3rd
held up, mistake 2nd, tailed off when mistake 7th (water), mistake and went left next, went badly left 9th, pulled up before next
led, pushed along and joined 2 out, ridden and headed between last two, chased winner, stayed on run-in, always held
raced keenly tracking leaders out wide, lost place 5th, jumped slowly and reminders 6th, soon behind, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
chased leaders, went left 9th, weakened before 3 out
tracked leaders out wide until lost place before 4th, reminders in 5th place before 6th (water), struggling when hit 4 out, ridden in remote 4th when pulled up and dismounted run-in
raced on inside chased leaders, 2nd before 3 out, challenged next, ridden to lead between last two, ridden and hung both ways run-in, stayed on strongly
Moonlighter ran well for a long way at Cheltenham last month but eventually finished six lengths behind Bun Doran, who had been given a more patient ride. Monsieur Lecoq has ability but has disappointed over fences on more than one occasion. Up The Straight has been highly tried since winning a novice event at Plumpton but Numitor and GUNSIGHT RIDGE can fight out the finish. The former came up against a well-treated four-year-old last time at Newbury but the latter’s second behind L’Homme Presse at Exeter looks a lot better now than it did at the time.
Moonlighter 22-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, pressed leader before 3 out, disputed lead briefly 3 out, soon headed and left behind by winner, ridden 2 out, weakened approaching last, 5th of 8, 14 1/4l behind Editeur Du Gite (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Paddy's Poem 40-1 (10-10) Chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, weakened from 2 out, mistake last, 17th of 21, 33 3/4l behind The Shunter (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) gs in Mar.
Bun Doran (IRE) 9-1 (10-11) Towards rear, minor headway 4 out, outpaced by front group 3 out, stayed on well from 2 out, nearest finish, 4th of 8, 8 1/4l behind Editeur Du Gite (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Monsieur Lecoq (FR) 4-1 (11-11) Chased leaders, lost place and ridden under 3 out, left behind over 2 out, last of 7, 17 3/4l behind Hudson De Grugy (11-11) at Lingfield 2m hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
Numitor 4-1cfav (10-11) Led early, headed and tracked leader after 3rd, mistake 9th, pushed along over 3 out, led over 2 out and soon edged left, headed before last, no chance with winner flat, 2nd of 12, 6 1/2l behind Il Ridoto (10-4) at Newbury 2m hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Up The Straight (IRE) 11-1 (11-2) Chased leading trio, went 3rd 9th, went 2nd before 12th until between last two, no extra in 3rd, went left last, 3rd of 5, 27l behind Pic D'Orhy (11-2) at Ascot 2m 3f (1) gs in Dec.
Gunsight Ridge 15-8fav (11-1) Pressed leader, led 9th, shaken up 2 out, headed last, no extra flat, 2nd of 8, 6l behind L'Homme Presse (11-2) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
