tracked leaders, pushed along after 3rd, soon lost place, well beaten 3 out
held up in rear, headway after 4 out, close 3rd 2 out, challenged last, stayed on well, led close home (no time taken due to very poor visibility)
detached in last, headway on outside when stumbled 3 out, no impression on leaders before last
tracked leaders, ridden 4 out, soon beaten
led until after 3rd, led 3 out, headed last, no extra towards finish
with leader, led after 3rd, not fluent 4 out, headed 3 out, no extra before last
held up towards rear, not fluent 3rd, headway on inside 4 out, weakened after 3 out
chased leaders, mistake 3 out, challenged next, soon hung left, led last, headed close home
in touch, ridden 3 out, no impression next
PERUVIEN BLEU (NAP) won at Towcester last month and made a bold bid to follow up off an 8lb higher mark at Leicester nine days ago. He may still be on an upward curve and is the one to beat in this. Having failed to sparkle over fences so far this season, Whispering Harry reverts to hurdles and isn’t badly treated. Mighty Missile would have claims on the form he showed when second at Bangor in the spring but he’s disappointed lately and Que Sera and Applesandpierres are others with something to prove at present.
Fort Carson (IRE) 20-1 (11-7) Held up in last pair, pushed along and struggling before 2 out, no headway, 8th of 10, 14l behind Darebin (11-4) at Lingfield 2m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Applesandpierres (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, ridden and weakened before 3 out, last of 8, 33l behind Unison (11-1) at Doncaster 2m 1f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Peruvien Bleu (FR) 10-1 (11-8) Raced wide in mid-division, headway on outside edging right before 6th (normal 3 out), ridden hanging right and switched right before next, went 2nd bypassing omitted last, kept on under pressure, 2nd of 14, 2l behind Rocklander (11-12) at Leicester 2m hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Mighty Missile (IRE) 7-2 (11-12) Tracked winner until not fluent 5th, soon ridden, outpaced and slow 4 out, well beaten next, last of 4, 23 3/4l behind Stynes (11-7) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (4) gf in Oct.
Whispering Harry 8-1 (10-2) Led until after 3rd, chased leader, fell next, at Newbury 2m hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Que Sera (IRE) 7-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, challenged after 5th, led 7th, headed before 3 out, weakened and pulled up before 2 out, at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Borak (IRE) 33-1 (11-11) Prominent in chasing group, closer in 2nd place before 3rd, pushed along and lost 2nd after 3 out, chased leaders, weakened after next, 7th of 14, 17 1/4l behind Clic Work (11-12) at Taunton 2m hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Deepsand (IRE) 9-1 (8-12) Dwelt, behind, ridden over 1f out, one pace inside final furlong, never on terms, last of 6, 9 3/4l behind Rosie Royale (9-2) at Bath 1m 5f hcp (5) fm in Aug.
Akula (IRE) 33-1 (10-0) Led, headed 4 out, weakened before next, 4th of 7, dist behind Clyne (11-12) at Haydock 2m hcp (3) hvy in Nov.
