held up towards rear, headway before 10th, joined leader 12th, led last, kept on and headed towards finish
held up mid-division, headway before 11th, went 3rd after last, kept on to lead towards finish
led to 10th, weakened after 2 out
tracked leaders, pushed along and weakened from 12th
tracked leaders, lost place from 9th, tailed off and pulled up before last
mid-division, headway to chase leaders before 8th, one pace and no impression
held up mid-division, ridden before 2 out, one pace
behind, slow 6th, reminders before 10th, soon weakened, tailed off
tracked leader, mistake 4th, led 10th, headed last, no extra and lost 2nd place towards finish
There are four previous course and distance winners in this with ZAZAMIX beating Prince Blackthorn and Pistol Basc at the track last month. The winner is 4lb higher and the latter 2lb lower so there shouldn't be much between that trio today but we'll take Andy Crooks' charge to come out best again as he's at the top of his game at present and John Kington again takes off 3lb. Cara Court has tumbled down the weights but has yet to show any improvement for it but Mondo Cane is probably capable of better. Decent Lord looks as though he's lost his confidence however.
Mondo Cane (IRE) 6-1 (11-3) Held up towards rear, steady headway 12th, chased leaders 14th, went 2nd before 4 out, no chance with easy winner, driven before 2 out, lost 2nd before the last, weakened run-in, 5th of 11, 28l behind Broadway Symphony (11-9) at Uttoxeter 3m 5yo nov hcp (4) hvy in Jan.
Auldthunder (IRE) 9-4 (10-12) In rear, jumped slowly 3rd, pushed along 8th, driven 12th, effort before 4 out, weakened next, tailed off, 5th of 7, 48l behind Always Bold (11-9) at Ludlow 3m cond hcp chs (5) sft in Jan.
Pistol Basc (FR) 7-2 (11-7) In touch, went 3rd from 7th, outpaced 3 out, ridden before last, kept on same pace, 3rd of 5, 6l behind Zazamix (10-3) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (5) sft in Jan.
Steady Progress (IRE) 20-1 (11-2) Mid-division, ridden and weakened 2 out, tailed off, 9th of 12, 39l behind Lights Of Broadway (11-4) at Catterick 2m 3f am hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gs in Dec.
Decent Lord (IRE) 11-1 (10-8) Held up mid-division, fell 7th, in a race won by Present Lodger (11-12) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (5) hvy, 8 ran.
Prince Blackthorn (IRE) 7-4fav (11-0) Tracked leaders, outpaced and reminders before 13th, stayed on from 2 out, chased winner, 2nd of 5, 2 3/4l behind Zazamix (10-3) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (5) sft in Jan.
Cara Court (IRE) 22-1 (10-8) Tracked leaders on outside, not fluent and lost place 9th, closed 13th, outpaced 15th, no impression after 4 out, weakened before next, 5th of 8, 33l behind Over And Above (10-0) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp chs 0-100 (5) sft in Jan.
Zazamix (FR) 9-2 (10-3) Led to 5th, remained close up, led again 13th, ridden before 2 out, kept on well from last, won at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (5) sft in Jan beating Prince Blackthorn (11-0) by 2 3/4l, 5 ran.
My Friend George 7-1 (10-10) Held up towards rear, headway and in touch after 10th, outpaced 4 out, ridden and weakened after next, 4th of 10, 27l behind Notonebuttwo (9-7) at Newcastle 3m hcp 0-100 (5) sft in Nov.
