in touch in rear, not clear run 3f out, soon pushed along, never a factor
keen tracked leader, led after 4f out, clear with one other over 8f out, headed and reduced lead over 7f out, tracked leaders, ridden over 4f out, weakened 3f out
steadied start, close up, headway to track press leader over 9f out, led over 7f out, ridden and stayed far side alone 3f out, headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong
tracked leaders, pushed along 8f out, ridden 4f out, driven 2f out, kept on one pace
in touch in rear, ridden and headway 2f out, led over 1f out, ran on
led 4f, tracked leaders, ridden to chase leader over 4f out, driven 2f out, stayed on towards finish
LOCH NESS MONSTER ended last year rated 87 and finally took advantage of a tumble down the weights when beating the re-opposing Sophar Sogood over course and distance. A 3lb rise may not be enough to prevent him going in again. Cold Harbour and Thawry are course winners though neither arrive in decent form and the latter remains 12lb higher than when scoring here in October while Shine Baby Shine and Lady Camelot are even harder to recommend.
Thawry 11-2 (10-0) Settled towards rear, headway into midfield over 4f out, ridden to chase leaders over 2f out, one pace from over 1f out, 3rd of 8, 5 3/4l behind Rukwa (9-8) at Newcastle 2m hcp (5) pol in Dec.
Loch Ness Monster (IRE) 11-2 (9-9) Keen close up in rear, headway to track leader over 8f out, led over 7f out, pushed out, won at Southwell 1m 6f hcp (5) pol in Nov beating Sophar Sogood (9-8) by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
Cold Harbour 14-1 (9-5) In touch rear, headway over 4f out, ridden to chase leading pair over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 3rd of 9, 11 1/2l behind Sky Power (9-7) at Southwell 1m 4f hcp (5) pol in Nov.
Sophar Sogood (IRE) 5-4fav (9-8) Tracked leader until over 8f out, tracked leaders, pushed along and slightly outpaced 4f out, ridden and headway 2f, ran on to go 2nd final furlong, 2nd of 6, 1 1/2l behind Loch Ness Monster (9-9) at Southwell 1m 6f hcp (5) pol in Nov.
Shine Baby Shine 12-1 (8-10) Prominent, pushed along 3f out, headway to chase leader 1f out, weakened final 110 yards, 5th of 11, 5 1/2l behind Eagle's Foot (9-1) at Newcastle 2m hcp (5) pol in Nov.
Lady Camelot (IRE) 33-1 (8-8) In touch, pushed along 8f out, dropped to rear and switched wide 7f out, not a factor after, 7th of 9, 19 3/4l behind Sky Power (9-7) at Southwell 1m 4f hcp (5) pol in Nov.