towards rear, hampered 7th, ridden to chase leaders after 5 out, outpaced after 3 out, weakening when mistake next, pulled up before last
held up behind, headway 3 out, soon ridden to chase leaders, went 2nd next, no chance with winner after, lost modest 2nd near finish
in touch on inside, led 8th, made rest, ridden clear after 2 out, stayed on strongly, very easily
in touch, hampered and lost place 7th, behind 4 out, blundered next, tailed off when pulled up before last
mid-division on outside, in touch 5 out, outpaced after 3 out, soon weakened
in touch, joined leader after 4th, left in narrow lead 7th, headed next, lost place after 3 out, no impression before next, plugged on to take modest 2nd near finish, no chance with easy winner
jumped big and rider lost iron briefly 1st, led narrowly, tended to jump left, pushed along after 4th, narrow advantage when fell 7th
mid-division, in touch 5 out, chased winner ridden before 3 out until next, weakened into 4th flat
Nonrunner
Vinnieslittle Lamb beat WICKLEWOOD by four lengths over an extended 2m here last month but Mark Gillard's charge enjoys a 7lb turnaround in the weights and can take revenge. He can also get the better of another recent course winner Grand Article, who is 8lb higher, and I Know The Code - the latter may be better over a bit further. Vertueux has shown nothing over fences while Dropzone was well behind the selection here in May. Ball Hopper would need to rediscover his best to figure.
Vinnieslittle Lamb (IRE) 5-4fav (11-12) Not fluent 1st, tracked leader until before 3 out, challenged 2 out, soon led and edged left, stayed on well, won at Towcester 2m hcp 0-100 (5) hvy in Nov beating Wicklewood (11-7) by 4l, 4 ran.
Thinger Licht (FR) 5-1 (11-12) Always behind, struggling after 5th, soon tailed off, last of 5, 39l behind Sportsreport (10-10) at Lingfield 2m hcp 0-100 (5) hvy in Nov.
Wicklewood 5-2 (11-7) Tracked leaders, mistake and ridden 8th, led 3 out, headed and edged left after 2 out, not fluent last, one pace flat, 2nd of 4, 4l behind Vinnieslittle Lamb (11-12) at Towcester 2m hcp 0-100 (5) hvy in Nov.
Dropzone (USA) 66-1 (10-11) Not travel that well in rear, well beaten bypassing omitted 5th, stayed on approaching last, never on terms, 6th of 11, 22l behind Exmoor Mist (11-2) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs.
I Know The Code (IRE) 5-2fav (11-0) In rear, outpaced 8th, hedwy 3 out, went 2nd before 2 out, kept on, 2nd of 8, 4l behind Carhue Princess (11-1) at Towcester 2m 3f hcp 0-100 (5) sft in Nov.
Ball Hopper (IRE) 5-2 (11-6) In rear, pushed along before 6th, reminders 7th, outpaced 11th, headway 3 out, soon weakened, 4th of 5, 22l behind Strange Bird (11-8) at Lingfield 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) hvy in Nov.
Vertueux (FR) 6-1 (10-1) Not fluent 1st, led, headed 4 out, soon ridden, rallied and every chance in 2nd when jinked badly and unseated rider last, in a race won by Snowell (11-8) at Leicester 2m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs, 7 ran.
Top Benefit (IRE) 10-3 (9-7) Led until 3 out, 3rd and beaten next, one pace before last, 3rd of 4, 8l behind Vinnieslittle Lamb (11-12) at Towcester 2m hcp 0-100 (5) hvy in Nov.
Grand Article (IRE) 9-4fav (10-13) Led, headed 5th, tracked leader, led again before 2 out and not fluent, stayed on well, won at Towcester 2m am hcp chs 0-100 (5) sft in Nov beating Top Benefit (9-10) by 10l, 6 ran.
