held up in touch, headway after 3 out, led before last, kept on well
held up towards rear, headway after 3 out, one pace in 4th before 2 out
tracked leader, led before 5 out, headed 4 out, weakened before 2 out, pulled up before last
held up towards rear on outer, headway from 5 out, led 2 out, soon driven, headed before last, kept on
tracked leaders, weakened from 3 out, pulled up
in touch, weakened before 2 out
prominent on outer, mistake 7th, weakened from 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
led, headed before 5 out, weakened before 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, headway to lead 4 out, headed 2 out, ridden before last, soon weakened
DANDY DUKE bids for a hat-trick off a 12lb higher mark but an amateur’s allowance negates some of that rise and Tom George’s charge should go close in his current form. Groundunderrepair was partnered by a 10lb conditional when runner-up at Warwick last time but Waltz Darling has been placed under today’s rider the last twice and makes more appeal. Ballythomas won over fences earlier this year but it’s hard to make a case for any of the remainder.
Dandy Duke (IRE) 8-1 (10-11) Mid-division, tracked leaders 4th, led approaching 3 out, clear next, stayed on well, comfortably, won at Chepstow 3m hcp (4) hvy in Nov beating For Carmel (10-3) by 11l, 10 ran.
Russian Service 50-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, jumped left and not fluent 4th, weakened before 3 out, 8th of 12, dist behind Bastien (11-12) at Towcester 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Simply The West (IRE) 20-1 (11-6) In rear, not fluent and cajoled along 4th, ridden after 11th, struggling 13th, mistake 5 out, pulled up before next, at Doncaster 3m hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Groundunderrepair (IRE) 5-2fav (11-8) Tracked leaders, jumped right 2nd, went 2nd 6th, close up when jumped right 2 out, 1 length down when left disputing lead last, held by winner final 120 yards, 2nd of 8, 3l behind Lady Karina (11-10) at Warwick 2m 3f hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Make Me A Fortune (IRE) 16-1 (11-10) Always towards rear, weakened from 4 out, last of 8, dist behind Skipthescales (10-12) at Wetherby 3m hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Waltz Darling (IRE) 6-1 (11-7) Raced keenly, mid-division, tracked leaders 5th, outpaced 3 out, soon ridden, stayed on to take 3rd after last, no chance with front pair, 3rd of 9, 21l behind Fly Vinnie (11-12) at Musselburgh 3m hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Mighty Missile (IRE) 28-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders in 3rd place, ridden and weakened before 2 out, 9th of 10, 30 3/4l behind Cabernet D'alene (11-7) at Taunton 2m hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Ballythomas 10-1 (10-3) In touch on outside, lost place 7th, mistake next, behind from 10th, lot touch when pulled up before 13th, at Perth 3m hcp (3) gd in Apr.
Wolfslair (IRE) 66-1 (11-7) Towards rear, headway before 6th, weakened from 3 out, 8th of 9, dist behind Romulus Du Donjon (11-3) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Bohemian Rhapsody (IRE) 40-1 (10-9) Close up, tracked leaders 4f out, ridden to chase winner over 2f out, no extra and lost 2 places inside final furlong, 4th of 12, 3 1/2l behind Strictly Art (10-11) at Lingfield 2m hcp (6) pol in Dec.
