mid-division on inside, lost place when not fluent 7th, well beaten 3 out, tailed off
tracked leaders on inside, pushed along before 3 out, 5th and beaten before next, weakened approaching last
tracked leaders, went 2nd 4th, ridden and weakened after 3 out, pulled up before next
held up in mid-division, headway 6th, weakened after 3 out, pulled up before next
made all, clear 3 out until last, edged left flat, held on well
held up in rear, headway after 3 out, ridden and hung left after 2 out, switched right flat, stayed on, unable to challenge winner
held up in rear, headway 3 out, driven before 2 out, 4th and one pace when not fluent last
tracked leader until 4th, lost place before 6th, behind 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
held up in mid-division on outside, headway 6th, went 2nd 3 out, closed last, switched right flat, stayed on, not able to challenge winner
Winning Spark is upped a grade off a higher mark after scoring over track and trip recently. Spice Fair has been raised 12lb and takes an even bigger step up in class on the back of a win at Market Rasen so Blue Buttons is preferred on her earlier success in a Listed hurdle at Wetherby. FOXCUB was below par over a longer trip last time but went close at Sandown before that and scored over today's distance at Bangor in November. Tom Symonds' charge gets the nod with Wilton Milan looking high enough in the handicap back over timber and Lightentertainment finishing well behind the selection on his latest start.
Foxcub (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) Mid-division, some headway 8th, ridden and struggling after 3 out, soon behind, 11th of 16, dist behind Singlefarmpayment (10-7) at Cheltenham 3m hcp (2) hvy in Jan.
Blue Buttons (IRE) 5-1jfav (11-5) Prominent, hampered and lost place after 4th, ridden and outpaced after 3 out, closed and hanging right when short of room on home bend after 2 out, no impression and weakened before last, 5th of 10, 16 1/2l behind Lily Waugh (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Wilton Milan (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Always behind, never a factor, 6th of 10, dist behind Seventh Sky (11-12) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
Lightentertainment (IRE) 12-1 (10-12) Towards rear, not much room on bend after 3 out, struggling and no chance after, last of 10, 33 1/2l behind Simply A Legend (10-5) at Sandown 2m 5f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Tornado In Milan (IRE) 12-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders, weakened from 3 out, 8th of 10, 23 1/4l behind Winning Spark (10-6) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp (3) hvy in Jan.
Spice Fair 7-1 (11-6) Behind, headway before 6th, chased leaders next, led before 2 out, ran on well, won at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp (4) sft in Dec beating Domtaline (11-12) by 6l, 13 ran.
Winning Spark (USA) 9-2 (10-6) In rear, headway before 2 out, led before last, kept on well, won at Taunton 2m 3f hcp (3) hvy in Jan beating Norse Legend (11-1) by 2 1/4l, 10 ran.
Handy Andy (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) In touch, lost place 8th, weakened 5 out, pulled up next, at Ludlow 3m hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Here's Herbie 8-1 (10-11) Held up towards rear, headway before 2 out, plugged on and never dangerous, 5th of 10, 7 1/2l behind Winning Spark (10-6) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp (3) hvy in Jan.
