held up in rear, headway on inside 4 out, ridden and weakened before 2 out
chased leaders on inside, lost place 3 out, soon weakened
mid-division, not fluent 5th, lost place 3 out, soon weakened
led, mistake 4 out, ridden when mistake 2 out, headed before last, lost 2nd near finish
held up towards rear, headway 5th, led before not fluent last, driven out
held up in rear, pecked slightly 1st, ridden 4 out, soon weakened
chased leaders, challenged 4 out, 3rd and not quicken before last, kept on, went 2nd near finish
tracked leader, not fluent 5th, lost 2nd when not fluent 2 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, ridden after 4 out, outpaced before 2 out, plugged on into 4th before last
SAFFRON PRINCE (NAP) won nicely at Stratford last month and has been raised only 2lb. He won off a higher mark last year and another bold bid is expected from David Bridgewater’s charge. Stop Talking is another with claims on a recent narrow-margin defeat at Chepstow while Dove Mountain may improve having undergone recent wind surgery and Newquay Cards should be sharper for a recent outing and was placed off a higher mark at Uttoxeter earlier. Hurricane Rita has been chasing but both previous wins over timber came in heavy going.
St George's Oval (IRE) 28-1 (11-5) Behind, hit 5th, never dangerous, 14th of 19, 33 1/2l behind Take A Break (11-10) at Carlisle 2m 1f hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Saffron Prince 9-2 (11-10) Held up, closed when bumped 2nd, went 2nd normal 3 out, led off last bend, soon clear, stayed on, won at Stratford 2m 1f hcp (5) gd in Oct beating Deise Vu (11-9) by 7l, 7 ran.
Dove Mountain (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, took keen hold, pushed along after 5th, weakened before 3 out, blundered and unseated rider last, at Stratford 2m (5) gd in Aug.
Oregon Gold (FR) 33-1 (11-7) Raced wide in mid-division, never on terms, 8th of 12, dist behind Flying Verse (11-11) at Bangor 2m 7f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Stop Talking (IRE) 11-4fav (11-7) Mid-division, headway 4 out, not much room 3 out, led before next, awkward last, headed flat, rallied, just held, 2nd of 15, shd behind Shadow's Girl (10-5) at Chepstow 2m hcp (5) gd in Oct.
Hurricane Rita (FR) 16-1 (10-9) Held up in rear, chased clear leaders in 4th before 12th, struggling 3 out, never a threat, 4th of 6, 29l behind Canyouringmeback (11-7) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Theredballoon 20-1 (11-3) Always behind, beaten 4 out, tailed off, 7th of 9, 22 1/4l behind Mauricio (12-0) at Southwell 2m hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Newquay Cards (IRE) 12-1 (10-11) Led after 1st, headed 3 out, ridden and no extra before last, 6th of 17, 14l behind Get Wishing (11-4) at Chepstow 2m hcp (5) gs in Nov.
Talkingpicturestv 100-1 (10-5) Tracked leader, lost place 4th, soon towards rear, weakened 2 out, last of 5, 12 3/4l behind Lungarno Palace (11-4) at Stratford 2m (3) gd in Oct.