well off the pace in rear, never in the race
tracked leaders on inside, 2nd after 3 out, challenged next, ridden to lead last, strongly pressed and kept on gamely run-in
not fluent 1st, held up in 6th, headway and closer approaching 4th, one pace in 4th from 3 out
raced wide, held up in touch, jumped slowly 4th, never travelling after, reminders before 6th, soon behind, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
chased leader after 2nd, led 6th until 8th, pressed leader, led again 3 out, driven between last two, narrowly headed last, pressed winner run-in, just held
tracked leader until after 2nd, chased leading pair, weakened before 3 out
led until narrowly headed 6th, pressed leader, led gain 8th until 3 out, soon dropped to 3rd, mistake 2 out, kept on same pace in 3rd
pecked 1st, held up in last pair, pushed along before 8th, soon struggling and never on terms
My Brother Sylvest has a long absence to overcome while Greywell Boy spurned an easier opportunity at Warwick earlier this month. Wetherby second French Opera is getting little from the handicapper and neither is Brick Red, but Festive Affair could be interesting with his yard in better form now. BALLYGARVEY beat Ulck Du Lin by four lengths at Ascot but there shouldn't be much between the pair on today's revised terms. However, we fancy Philip Hobbs' charge to confirm the form as he should strip fitter now. Arkaim couldn't complete the hat-trick off this mark at Ludlow last month and is also likely to come up short again here.
French Opera 6-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, went modest 4th before 4 out, ridden and headway under pressure 2 out, went 2nd at last, stayed on to press winner towards finish, just held, 2nd of 8, 3/4l behind Upsilon Bleu (11-6) at Wetherby 2m hcp chs 0-150 (2) sft in Dec.
Brick Red 4-1 (11-1) Tracked leading pair, travelling well before 3 out, driven between last 2, driven into 2nd run-in, kept on same pace, 2nd of 7, 2 1/4l behind Mr Mole (11-4) at Sandown 2m hcp chs (2) sft.
Ballygarvey (FR) 9-2 (11-7) Hampered 1st, chased leader, led before 6th, headed 4 out, chased leaders, ridden to lead again 2 out, driven before last, stayed on well flat, won at Ascot 2m 1f hcp chs 0-140 (3) gs in Dec beating Ulck Du Lin (11-1) by 4l, 6 ran.
Ulck Du Lin (FR) 5-1 (11-1) Took keen hold, left in lead 1st, headed before 6th, chased leader, led again 4 out until hit 3 out and dropped to 3rd, rallied to chase winner 2 out, ridden and chance last, no extra flat, 2nd of 6, 4l behind Ballygarvey (11-7) at Ascot 2m 1f hcp chs 0-140 (3) gs in Dec.
My Brother Sylvest 20-1 (11-8) Led, jumped big 1st, headed 4 out, weakened before 2 out, last of 5, 25l behind Dodging Bullets (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m nov chs Grade 2 (1) gd in Nov '13.
Festive Affair (IRE) 6-1fav (10-13) Mid-division on outside, outpaced 4 out, weakened next, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Bold Henry (10-6) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft in Nov, 19 ran.
Arkaim 15-2 (11-3) Led, not fluent 4th, headed 3 out, soon ridden, 4 lengths down and held when mistake next, kept on same pace, 2nd of 8, 9l behind Gardefort (10-12) at Ludlow 2m hcp chs 0-140 (3) gs in Dec.
Greywell Boy 11-4fav (11-0) Led early, prominent, mistake 1st, ridden 4 out, no extra flat, 3rd of 6, 8l behind Upepito (11-1) at Warwick 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft.
