chased leaders on outer, left tracking leader 4th, pushed along and weakened before 2 out
towards rear, smooth headway on inner home turn and soon went 3rd, led 2 out, pushed along and went clear approaching last, ran on well, readily
chased leaders, ridden and switched right after 2 out, no progress
led, not fluent 2nd, swerved left and ran out on approach to 4th
mid-division, pushed along and no response before 2 out
tracked leaders, left prominent at 4th, led 3 out, headed 2 out, ridden before last, faded run-in
rear mid-division, hit 3 out and soon beaten, pulled up before next
mid-division, left chasing leaders 4th, pushed along and weakened before 2 out
prominent, left in lead 4th, headed 3 out, kept on, ridden before last, no match for winner
in rear, ridden 4 out, stayed on steadily from before 2 out, never nearer
FOR THREE (NAP) was more than four lengths ahead of subsequent course and distance winner El Jefe when only headed on the run-in here at the start of the month. He is a pound better off at the weights with his old rival and can go one better today. Coup De Gold is fairly consistent but a career strike-rate of 1-56 speaks volumes while Flat winner Whitehaven has shown little aptitude for hurdling so far. Mr Rumbalicious won on soft going at Cartmel in August, however.
Whitehaven (FR) 66-1 (9-9) Raced wide, soon tracked leader, pushed along 5f out, weakened 4f out, tailed off, last of 14, dist behind Zinc White (9-11) at Chester 2m 3f hcp (2) sft in May.
El Jefe (IRE) 6-4fav (10-7) Held up towards rear, headway and every chance 2 out, ridden to lead next, ran on, won at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp (5) sft in Nov beating Calevade (12-0) by 3 1/4l, 8 ran.
For Three (IRE) 9-4fav (10-7) Held up and behind, headway chasing leaders after 3 out, soon tracking leader, led turning in, narrowly headed last, stayed on run-in, 2nd of 10, 1/2l behind Horn Cape (12-0) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp (5) sft in Nov.
Mr Rumbalicious (IRE) 16-1 (10-13) Close up, ridden to lead after last, all out towards finish, just held on, won at Cartmel 2m 1f hcp (5) sft in Aug beating Fathers Advice (11-3) by nk, 8 ran.
Hide Out (IRE) 28-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, pushed along and weakened quickly after 3 out, tailed off and pulled up before next, at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp (5) sft in Nov.
Fairland (IRE) 125-1 (10-11) Mid-division, struggling and dropped to rear from 4 out, pulled up after 3 out, at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp (5) sft in Oct.
Grifter 11-1 (10-1) Slowly away, keen close up after 1f, pushed along over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, last of 8, 21 1/4l behind Eagle's Realm (10-1) at Newcastle 2m hcp (6) pol in Nov.
Zara's Universe 10-1 (10-13) Towards rear, mistake 4th, headway into 4th after 9th, ridden after 4 out and gradually dropped away, 7th of 12, 12l behind Chemical Warfare (10-8) at Newcastle 2m hcp (5) gd in May.
Coup De Gold (IRE) 9-2 (11-5) Prominent, ridden and no impression before last, kept on same pace run-in, 4th of 10, 3l behind Snowed In (10-10) at Hexham 2m hcp (5) gd in Jun.
Robin Goodfellow (IRE) 22-1 (9-0) Held up in mid-division, pushed along and effort over 4f out, outpaced over 2f out, soon well held, 10th of 11, 23l behind Ghostly (9-1) at Thirsk 1m 4f hcp (6) gd in Aug.
