tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened
mid-division, headway before 5 out, led before last, soon clear
tracked leaders, led after 3 out, soon headed, kept on and no impression from last
led, headed after 3 out, soon weakened
always towards rear, pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, ridden and weakened after 3 out
mid-division, weakened before 4 out
towards rear, headway before 2 out, soon ridden, kept on
chased leader, led before 2 out, headed soon after, weakened before last
reluctant to race, slowly away, always behind, pulled up before 2 out
held up in touch, headway after 3 out, challenged 2 out, kept on same pace before last
NonRunner
True Thoughts returned the shock 33/1 winner at Wincanton when prevailing by only a neck. It remains to be seen if he can reproduce that effort while Norwegian Woods has returned a losing a favourite the last twice now and looked held when falling at the last at Hereford. TIS FANTASTIC (NAP) showed the benefit of a comeback run when finishing runner-up at Chepstow on his latest outing. Michael Blake’s charge finished well clear of a subsequent winner on that occasion and looks to have strong claims of going one better on that form. The Dawn Man failed to complete over fences on his reappearance but was placed over track and trip earlier but Uttoxeter third Kilcaragh Boy has just the one win in 52 attempts over timber and that was back in 2016.
Black Market (IRE) 66-1 (11-8) Prominent, weakened after 3 out, 6th of 9, dist behind Pride Of Lecale (12-0) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (4) hvy in Nov.
Norwegian Woods (IRE) 11-4fav (11-11) Mid-division, tracked leaders 7th, ridden after 2 out, 3 lengths down in 3rd when fell last, at Hereford 3m 2f hcp (5) gd in Nov.
Tis Fantastic (FR) 20-1 (10-13) Mistake 1st, chased leaders, went 2nd after 4 out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 17, 3 1/2l behind Guardia Top (10-5) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (5) gs in Oct.
The Dawn Man (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, mistake and lost place 5th, rallied after next, weakening when blundered and pulled up 8th, at Southwell 2m hcp (4) gs in Oct.
Sandford Castle (IRE) 18-1 (10-12) In touch, ridden and weakened 4 out, pulled up 2 out, at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Golan Cloud (IRE) 22-1 (11-4) Mistake 1st, in touch, pushed along before 3 out, never on terms, weakened from next, 9th of 15, 25 1/4l behind Battleofthesomme (10-7) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp (5) sft in Nov.
Ex S'elance (FR) 33-1 (11-4) Always towards rear, tailed off, 9th of 14, dist behind Casimir Du Clos (11-1) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp (5) hvy in Nov.
Duty Girl (IRE) 33-1 (10-11) Waited with, soon towards rear, pushed along after 4 out, kept on same pace without threatening straight, 15th of 24, 21 3/4l behind Miss Mcilroy (10-11) at Cork 2m 3f hcp Yielding in Aug.
True Thoughts (IRE) 33-1 (10-3) Prominent, led after 4th, headed 2 out, rallied and every chance last, stayed on gamely to lead again close home, won at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (5) gs in Nov beating Methag (11-13) by nk, 14 ran.
Cold Fusion (IRE) 9-1 (10-0) Reluctant and very slowly away, detached rear, jump right and blundered 3rd, soon pulled up, at Fakenham 2m hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Robin De Broome (IRE) 9-2 (10-0) Towards rear, mistake 5th, well behind 3 out, 8th of 10, 37 1/2l behind Petrucci (11-0) at Stratford 2m 3f hcp (5) gd in Aug.
Kilcaragh Boy (IRE) 11-1 (10-4) Took keen hold in rear, headway on outside 3 out, soon ridden, stayed on to take 3rd post, 3rd of 14, 8 1/2l behind Hen (10-13) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp (5) sft in Oct.