towards rear when hampered 3rd, struggling before 4 out, tailed off
led until after 2nd, chased leader, ridden to lead narrowly well before last, hit last, pressed soon after, ridden and stayed on well to assert final 110 yards
chasing leaders when broke down, pulled up sharply and unseated rider after 3rd
held up in rear, headway approaching 4 out, chased leaders after next, stayed on into 3rd towards finish, no impression on front pair
in rear when hampered 3rd, moderate late progress, never in contention
racing in mid-division when hampered 3rd, some late progress, never a factor
chased leader, led after 2nd, ridden and narrowly headed well before last, tried to rally as winner hit last, found no extra and held final 110 yards
chased leaders, blundered badly and almost unseated rider 5th, not recover
took keen hold and always in rear
chased leaders, pushed along well before last, soon outpaced by front pair, no impression and lost 3rd towards finish
towards rear, hampered 3rd, pushed along after 4th, struggling 4 out, tailed off
keen hold, held up in rear, ridden and no response 3 out, modest late progress, never a factor
chased leaders, pushed along after 3 out, weakened before next
mid-division until weakened 4 out, tailed off
KARKY SCHULTZ can take this prize with Dona and Jordan's Light making a modicum of appeal. James Eustace's charge is far from straight forward but he does have the ability to be winning races of this nature if Mark Bradburne can get him into cooperating rather than acting against him. Soft ground seems to offer little concern. Dona is bred for the flat rather than the winter game. He was easy to back on debut for Alan King though today will see him under much more experienced handling than was the case on that instance. Jordan's Light won a bad lady riders race in good style. As is typical for David Evans inmates, he will not be wanting for fitness. Gaspara is sure to bowl along at a furious pace though has disappointed for some time. Nearby's form is ordinary though that of his stable is most definitely not. Chaninbar ran a career best in a listed hurdle at Sandown. Were he to reproduce that level of form, he would be a factor inspite of a big weight. Alasao looked in need of his reappearance and is much better than the bare result suggests. Arctic Cape was a respectable sort on the flat for Mark Johnston though has yet to sparkle over the hurdles. A trappy affair in which Karky Schultz is a tentative pick.
Gaspara (FR) 20-1 (11-9) Held up mid-division, weakened after 4 out, 11th of 15, 34l behind Classic Dream (10-11) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft.
Chaninbar (FR) 66-1 (10-8) With leader, disputed lead from halfway, every chance before 2 out, soon weakened, 6th of 9, 16l behind Tasheba (11-12) at Sandown 2m lst hcp hdl (0-150) (1) hvy.
Alasao 14-1 (11-0) Mid-division, behind from 6th, tailed off, 10th of 12, well behind Dontpaytheferryman (9-13) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) hvy in Nov.
Nearby 7-1 (11-5) Held up, ridden 3 out, one pace 2 out, 6th of 12, 16l behind Balzaccio (11-8) at Huntingdon 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs.
Mohayer (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, weakened 3 out, 12th of 15, 36l behind Classic Dream (10-11) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft.
Dona 12-1 (10-7) Tracked leader, ridden and every chance from 2 out, left 2nd last, every chance flat, kept on same pace, 2nd of 13, 2 3/4l behind Makhzoon (10-12) at Leicester 2m cond nov hdl 4yo+ (4) hvy.
Karky Schultz (GER) 7-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, led approaching 2 out, hit last, headed flat, no extra, 2nd of 8, 1 3/4l behind L'homme De Nuit (11-1) at Sandown 2m nov hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft.
Doctor Robert 7-2 (11-3) Held up, improved to track leaders 5th, ridden to chase leader briefly approaching 2 out, hit last and one pace, 3rd of 9, 9l behind Kashmina (10-2) at Taunton 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Nov.
Arctic Cape 20-1 (11-4) Led, headed approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 7th of 8, 16l behind L'homme De Nuit (11-1) at Sandown 2m nov hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft.
Dreams Jewel 14-1 (9-13) Held up in mid division, headway to chase leaders under pressure before 3 out, weakened soon after, 6th of 12, 35l behind Galaxy Rock (11-1) at Ffos Las 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs.
Blue Express (IRE) 5-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, ridden 3 out, no response, 8th of 11, 34l behind Scots Dragoon (10-13) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (3) gd in Nov.
Jordan's Light (USA) 8-1 (10-12) Held up well in rear, not fluent 6th, headway when hit 3 out, switched right flat, ran on to lead close home, won at Ludlow 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft beating Bosamcliff (10-8) by 3/4l, 11 ran.
Points of View 10-1 (11-6) Held up in touch, chased leaders 3 out, weakened flat, 6th of 18, 10l behind Stagecoach Pearl (11-5) at Doncaster 2m nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd.
Prince Massini (IRE) 33-1 (11-8) Mid-division, dropped rear 5th, tailed off, 11th of 14, well behind Power Shared (10-6) at Hereford 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft.
