held up, pushed along and struggling after 6th
in touch, headway to chase leaders 3 out, soon ridden, weakened next
held up, ridden and headway approaching 2 out, left 3rd last, one pace
held up mid-division, ridden 3 out, weakened
tracked leaders, weakened after 3 out
held up, effort 3 out, no impression
mid-division, led approaching 7th, ridden and headed after 3 out, weakened approaching next
held up towards rear, ridden and headway approaching 2 out, led after last, ran on
mid-division, headway 7th, led approaching 3 out, ridden next, in 3rd and held when fell last
held up, headway approaching 7th, ridden to lead approaching last, headed soon after, kept on
held up, mid-division, ridden and weakened 3 out
tracked leader, led 5th, headed approaching 7th, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off from next
mid-division, hit 8th, soon weakended
in rear, ridden and headway approaching 2 out, stayed on approaching last, never on terms
Ursis is less exposed than most of these and holds solid claims off just a 6lb higher mark than when successful at Wetherby in October but Jonjo O'Neill's gelding has yet to prove himself over this far and preference is for another novice Hoh Viss, who is preferred to Sunday City. The last mentioned has been raised a stone for his win at Catterick last time and that looks to be harsh in the extreme so Peter Bowen's gelding may be best watched. Ludlow winner Go For Bust may want a softer surface, while Euro American is likely to find this tougher than the race that he won at Newcastle last time. Alan King's Pretty Star seems to be plenty high enough in the weights now while Smart Boy Prince, who is only banded stakes class on the level, looks handicapped to the hilt on a mark of 120 here. Direct Flight reverts to hurdles on a fair mark and has to be considered but preference is for Hoh Viss who looks to be going the right way over hurdles and has been allotted a decent mark for his debut in this grade.
Fontanesi (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) Always in rear, lost touch 4th, tailed off, 19th of 20, well behind Desert Air (10-9) at Sandown 2m lst hcp hdl (1) sft.
Pretty Star (GER) 10-1 (11-0) Prominent, headway on bit 3 out, shaken up to lead approaching last, driven out, won at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl (B) gd in Dec beating Fire Dragon (11-12) by 3/4l, 12 ran.
Benbyas 50-1 (11-5) Chased leader, lost place 4 out, soon weakened, 8th of 12, well behind dhtrs Buck Whaley (10-6) & Rayshan (10-7) at Carlisle 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) hvy.
Go For Bust 18-1 (11-7) Mid-division, headway 6th, ridden to lead 2 out, ran on, won at Ludlow 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd beating Armariver (10-2) by 1 1/2l, 15 ran.
Arrayou (FR) 50-1 (10-2) Behind, ridden 3 out, stayed on from next but never a danger, 9th of 20, 17l behind Desert Air (10-9) at Sandown 2m lst hcp hdl (1) sft.
Papini (IRE) 10-1 (11-5) Led, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 4th of 12, 11l behind Dom d'Orgeval (11-3) at Lingfield 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-140 (B) sft in Dec.
Enhancer 6-5fav (11-10) Prominent, chased leader approaching 6th, joined winner and every chance 2 out, not quicken approaching last, 2nd of 10, 2 1/2l behind Decisive (11-4) at N Abbot 2m 3f nov hdl (D) gd in Aug.
Sunday City (JPN) 6-4fav (11-6) Held up mid-division, headway after 5th, led 3 out, shaken up to go clear next, easily, won at Catterick 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd beating Red Man (10-9) by 8l, 16 ran.
Hoh Viss 1-3fav (11-5) Prominent, led 6th, hit 7th, soon clear, easily, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nov hdl (E) hvy in Dec beating Palm Island (10-12) by 22l, 8 ran.
Widemouth Bay (IRE) 12-1 (11-6) Held up, headway after 8th, weakened approaching 3 out, 7th of 12, well behind Over The Creek (11-12) at Newbury 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (C) gs in Feb.
Euro American (GER) 11-2 (11-2) Held up, headway approaching 4 out, led on bit 2 out, clear last, eased towards finish, won at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft beating Fred's In The Know (10-11) by 4l, 10 ran.
Direct Flight (IRE) 5-1 (11-1) Held up, hit 6th, ridden to chase leaders 4 out, led 2 out, going clear when fell at the last in race won by Royal Hector (11-12) at Taunton 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd, 8 ran.
Smart Boy Prince (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) Led, ridden 4 out, headed next, soon weakened, last of 9, 44l behind Brooklyn Brownie (10-8) at Fakenham 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gd in Dec.
Powder Creek (IRE) 11-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, mistake 2nd, mistake 9th, soon lost place, ridden after 11th, soon struggling, 7th of 11, 49l behind Oso Magic (11-0) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (D) gs in Nov.
Le Royal (FR) 8-1 (10-11) Mid-division, weakened halfway, 5th of 10, 37l behind New Alco (10-2) at Sedgefield 2m 5f beg chs (E) sft in Dec.
Ursis (FR) 6-4fav (11-6) Made all, ridden and hit last, kept on well, won at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (C) sft in Oct beating Kentucky Blue (11-12) by 5l, 6 ran.
