held up, hit 3rd, some headway when hit 11th, weakened before next, went poor 3rd after 2 out, tailed off
chased winner, not fluent 7th, lost 2nd after 12th, weakened 4 out, tailed off
made all, clear 2nd, not fluent 9th, 6 lengths ahead 3 out, hit next, edged right flat, all out
tracked leaders, lost place 5th, behind when fell 9th
chased leaders, ridden after 8th, mistake 10th, weakened approaching 12th, bad mistake 4 out, tailed off
held up, weakened 11th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
held up, blundered and unseated rider 4th
mid-division, hit 2nd, headway 4th, chased winner after 12th, 6 lengths down 3 out, stayed on flat, just held
The heavy going could prove problematic for Monty's Revenge as he won twice on fast ground last year, while Pennett Bay also floundered in testing conditions at Plumpton last time having scored at Towcester before that. Richard The Third's only win so far came over timber at this track and he may figure on his first start over fences, but the vote goes to ROYAUME BLEU. He went very close when third here in November and was still travelling well when coming a cropper at Huntingdon on his latest outing. Alex Hales' charge looks up to taking this with a clear round.
Identimin 33-1 (11-0) Held up in rear and keen, hampered 9th, weakened before 4 out, 6th of 7, 37l behind Molly Round (11-0) at Exeter 2m 3f mares nov ch (4) hvy in Dec.
Monty's Revenge (IRE) 15-2 (10-1) Always towards rear, pulled up after 5 out, in a race won by Kristoffersen (11-3) at Newton Abbot 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in Aug, 17 ran.
Pensnett Bay 8-1 (11-2) Led, mistakes, headed 9th, weakenend before 4 out, 7th of 10, 50l behind Time To Think (11-2) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) hvy.
She's On The Case (IRE) 10-1 (10-13) In rear, struggling 4th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Mr Chow (11-12) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Dec, 14 ran.
Thorncliffer 11-1 (10-13) Led until after 1st, prominent, not fluent 5th, weakened from 8th, tailed off, 7th of 10, well behind The Tatkin (11-11) at Hereford 3m 2f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (5) sft.
Emperor Charlie 22-1 (10-13) Mid-division, headway 11th, ridden after 4 out, well held by leaders approaching 2 out, went 4th last, 4th of 13, 17l behind Sycho Fred (10-3) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Dec.
Richard The Third 11-2 (11-4) Towards rear, ridden 4th, never on terms, 6th of 11, 32l behind Truckers Princess (10-13) at Market Rasen 2m 1f sll hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Dec.
Royaume Bleu (FR) 6-1 (10-7) Held up in rear, fell 10th, in a race won by Oscar Close (11-5) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (5) sft, 8 ran.
