led, jumped left 1st, headed 3rd, ridden after 4th, lost place before next, soon behind, pulled up before 3 out
close up in 3rd, hampered 1st, challenged 4 out, outjumped 3 out, went left and no impression next, rallied flat, not quite able to peg winner back
tracked leaders, challenged 4th, lost place after 4 out, weakened before next
held up in last, hit 2nd, headway 4 out, went 3rd before next, one pace and no impression, not fluent last
took keen hold early, prominent, led 3rd, not fluent next, joined 4 out until 3 out, 4 lengths clear when hit last, all out
held up in 5th, awkward 1st, closed from 4th, ridden before 3 out, soon weakened
Front-runner Workbench was let down by his jumping here last month but still finished ahead of Sands Cove, though his yard has just lost a bit of momentum lately. SOUND INVESTMENT never figured on his chasing bow at Doncaster and needs to settle better but he doesn't look badly handicapped and may have more scope than most of these. Tornado In Milan has been disappointing so far over the larger obstacles and Noche De Reyes and Itsuptoyou may need more time.
Workbench (FR) 7-4fav (10-5) Led, bad mistake 8th, headed approaching 3 out, rallying and about 1 length down when blundered badly last, not recover, 3rd of 4, 6l behind Funny Star (11-5) at Taunton 2m (3) gd in Dec.
Sound Investment (IRE) 7-1 (10-5) Took keen hold, held up towards rear, pushed along approaching 4 out, plugged on but never on terms, 5th of 8, 12l behind Next Sensation (10-12) at Doncaster 2m (3) gs in Dec.
Sands Cove (IRE) 5-1 (11-3) Held up in last, shaken up approaching 3 out, soon weakened, last of 6, 29l behind Bobcatbilly (10-8) at Haydock 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) hvy in Dec.
Noche De Reyes (FR) 16-1 (10-7) Held up well in rear, jumped slowly throughout, headway 4 out, never dangerous, blundered last, modest 4th, 4th of 5, 22l behind Mwaleshi (11-3) at Haydock 2m nov chs (2) sft in Dec.
Tornado In Milan (IRE) 5-2fav (11-9) Took keen hold, soon tracking leaders, lost place 5th, rallied 4 out, soon no impression, 5th of 6, 25l behind Granville Island (11-7) at Haydock 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Dec.
Itsuptoyou (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) Mid-division, 6th halfway, 5th 4 out, ridden entering straight, no extra before 2 out, weakened, 5th of 12, 43l behind Living Next Door (11-11) at Limerick 2m 3f hcp chs 0-109 sft in May.
