led, ridden and came centre over 2f out, headed approaching final furlong, driven and stayed on
dwelt, headway on outer to chase leaders 4f out, ridden to press leader over 2f out, led approaching final furlong, edged left, driven and all out
tracked leaders, ridden halfway, weakened over 2f out
dwelt outpaced and behind, ridden 5f out, headway over 1f out, ran on final furlong, nearest finish
close up, ridden halfway, outpaced over 2f out, rallied inside final furlong
in touch, ridden 4f out, weakened 2f out
tracked leader, ridden halfway, stayed on one pace final furlong
A few of these are closely matched at the weights so it could pay to concentrate on the best recent form. That looks to be MYSTERIOUS WONDER's close-up fourth at Wolverhampton and he gets a tentative vote. Quadriga also went close at Wolverhampton last time and had Poetic Belle well behind when scoring at the same track earlier. The value of Mont Ventoux's form in France is hard to assess but Bapak Pesta will need to step up on his recent efforts at this track if he's to figure.
Bapak Pesta (IRE) 16-1 (8-13) Chased leaders on inside, outpaced over 3f out, ridden and kept on same pace final 2f, no impression, 5th of 9, 5l behind Izzy Boy (9-2) at Southwell 7f hcp 0-60 (6) fbs.
Kept 5-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders in 3rd, weakened and lost 2 places inside final furlong, 5th of 11, 7l behind Boris The Bold (9-3) at Kempton 1m app hcp 0-50 (7) pol in Nov.
Lucy Minaj 20-1 (8-8) Held up in last pair, driven over 2f out, never reached leaders, 10th of 11, 10l behind Be Royale (8-9) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Nov.
Mont Ventoux (FR) Pulled Up behind Mat Maker on his latest Hurdle outing at Landivisiau over 1m 5f (good to soft) in October.
Mysterious Wonder 25-1 (8-2) Dwelt, raced freely in touch, every chance over 1f out, faded final furlong, 4th of 7, 1 3/4l behind Keene (8-9) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f app hcp 0-70 (5) pol.
Poetic Belle 20-1 (8-13) Tracked leader, ridden and lost place inside final 2f, soon weakened, 10th of 11, 11l behind Galilee Chapel (9-3) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-52 (6) pol in Nov.
Quadriga (IRE) 9-2 (9-3) Edged left after 1f, in touch, headway over 3f out, ridden to chase winner over 1f out, not quicken towards finish, 2nd of 12, 3/4l behind Litmus (9-3) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (6) pol.