prominent, 4th, ridden when fell 3 out
mid-division, mistake 5th, ridden 10th, weakened 4 out
mid-division, headway 10th, ridden behind leaders approaching 3 out, left 4th 3 out, weakened approaching next
led, ridden 3 out, headed 2 out, weakened flat
mid-division, weakened 6th, pulled up before 3 out
always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
in touch, headway from 10th, challenged 3 out, ridden to lead 2 out, driven out flat
towards rear, ridden halfway, pulled up before 9th
chased leader, ridden, weakened after 10th, pulled up before 3 out
towards rear, jumped left throughout, ridden 6th, soon weakened, pulled up before 3 out
in touch, blundered 9th, ridden 4 out, headway approaching 3 out, stayed on from 2 out
prominent, ridden, weakened 9th, pulled up after 4 out
chased leader, mistake 10th, weakened after 4 out
Michigan d'Isop showed improved form when chasing home Take It There over course and distance last month and has to be respected but a 5lb rise for that effort seems harsh and a better bet looks to be BASEBALL TED, who gets the vote ahead of Safari Adventures. Peter Winkworth's gelding has not been seen for almost a year but he starts the year on a fair mark and has to be considered. Oscar Jack made an encouraging reappearance at Uttoxeter in October and the Venetia Williams-trained gelding has every chance off a 1lb lower mark today, with every likelihood that he will come on for that run. Most Definitely has been well held in recent starts and it is hard to get away from Baseball Ted. The son of Beneficial had been hard to win with until winning in good fashion at Ascot last month and a reproduction of the form that he showed that day may be good enough to see him defy the hefty 9lb rise in the weights since then.
Safari Adventures (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Led and keen, mistake 3rd, clear 5th, headed 10th, mistake 2 out, weakened, last of 6, 46l behind Polinamix (10-11) at Folkestone 2m 5f nov chs (4) gs in Feb.
Sandy's Legend (USA) 15-2 (11-0) Mid-division, headway 5th, ridden 2 out, stayed on same pace flat, 3rd of 9, 5l behind Supsonic (10-5) at Leicester 2m sll hdl (5) sft in Dec.
Most Definitely (IRE) 16-1 (11-5) Towards rear, headway 4 out, ridden and mistake 3 out, soon held, 6th of 15, 8l behind Forty Five (10-7) at Ludlow 2m ldy hcp hdl (4) gs in Dec.
Baseball Ted (IRE) 10-3 (10-6) Made all, ridden clear after 2 out, ran on well, won at Ascot 2m 1f nov hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs in Dec beating Fit To Drive (11-11) by 6l, 13 ran.
Thebelloftheball 40-1 (10-12) Behind when blundered and unseated rider in race won by Solid As A Rock (10-2) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Dec, 15 ran.
Prince De Lacour (FR) (10-3) Led 5 out, weakened quickly when headed 2 out, 5th of 9, 29l behind Ouh La La (10-3) at Auteuil 2m 2f ch in Nov.
Oscar Jack (FR) 5-2 (10-13) Soon tracking leaders, chased winner 8th, jumped left 2 out, weakened approaching last, 3rd of 6, 16l behind Arumun (11-9) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Oct.
Michigan d'Isop (FR) 8-1 (11-7) Mid-division, ridden and headway from 4 out, stayed on well to go 2nd close home, 2nd of 12, 2l behind Take It There (11-6) at Taunton 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Dec.
Mister Tibus (FR) 14-1 (11-5) Prominent, weakened 7th, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Bally Conn (10-13) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs in Oct, 21 ran.
Run of Kings (IRE) 6-1 (12-0) Chsd ldrs til wknd 3 out, 6th of 7, 25l behind North Island (12-0) at Umberleigh 3m ptp frm in Jun.
Diego Velasquez (IRE) 16-1 (10-4) Prominent, jumped left 10th, lost place approaching 2 out, 6th of 12, 24l behind By George (10-7) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Nov.
Tom Fontenailles (FR) 16-1 (11-2) Mid-division, headway to chase leader 7th, challenged 12th, ridden and weakened 4 out, no chance when fell 3 out in race won by Solid As A Rock (10-2) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Dec, 15 ran.
Lord Lieutenant (FR) 20-1 (10-5) Mid-division, bumped 1st, lost place 8th, weakened approaching 4 out, tailed off, 9th of 15, well behind I'moncloudnine (11-10) at Hereford 2m 3f hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft in Dec.
