held up in last pair, reminders after 1th, behind when awkward 13th, tailed off
held up in close 5th, headway chasing leaders before 11th, left in close 3rd 3 out, went 2nd before 2 out, no chance with winner, dropped to 3rd final strides
chased leaders, not fluent 7th, driven along in 4th after 3 out, 3rd next, went 2nd last strides, no chance with winner
held up in last trio, pushed along and struggling after 13th, never on terms
chased leader 3rd until 11th, chased leaders, close 3rd when unseated rider 3 out
held up in 6th, blundered and lost place 8th, soon behind, headway before 2 out, not much room between horses and kept on under pressure run-in
held up in 6th, ridden and weakened 13th
led until 2nd, chased leaders, went 2nd 11th, led 4 out, clear before 2 out, stayed on well
led 2nd and maintained good pace, headed 4 out, chased winner until ridden before 2 out, chased leaders, weakened between last 2
EBONY GALE weakened close home when second at Huntingdon but that was his first try over fences and he had made a couple of errors on the way around. Any improvement would make him hard to beat in this racing off the same mark. Write It Down has won twice over fences and was given plenty to do last time at Huntingdon. Jarlath is also a previous course and distance winner but Fresh New Dawn took a backward step again at Exeter. Plumpton runner-up Magic River lacks a bit of scope but will strip fitter here whereas Kilcara is returning from a year off.
Ebony Gale 8-1 (11-1) Held up towards rear, not much room 6th, headway after 3 out, chased winner before not fluent next, no impression, 2nd of 9, 13l behind Guy (11-4) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Jarlath 14-1 (11-9) Held up in touch, ridden before 11th, prominent after 12th, ridden 3 out, pushed along and weakened after next, lost 4th close home, 5th of 10, 15 1/4l behind Mine's A Pint (11-11) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp (4) sft in Oct.
Fresh New Dawn (IRE) 6-1 (11-11) Held up, raced keenly, not fluent 5th, headway before 8th, not fluent and held from 3 out, one pace, 4th of 6, 9 1/2l behind Troed Y Melin (10-11) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (4) gf in Oct.
Kilcara (IRE) 12-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, headway 6th, chased leaders 4 out, no extra approaching 2 out, left in 2nd last, 2nd of 9, 15l behind Templepark (11-12) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Bletchley Castle (IRE) 40-1 (11-10) Led, jumped right on occasions, headed after 11th, ridden approaching 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up 3 out, at Uttoxeter 3m hcp (4) gs in Oct.
Write It Down (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Towards rear of mid-division, stayed on from 15th, went 3rd after 3 out, unable to get on terms, 3rd of 12, 19l behind The Late Legend (10-8) at Huntingdon 3m hcp (5) gd in Oct.
Magic River (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Midfield, went second 3 out, made headway to challenge before 2 out, kept on from 2 out but no match for winner, 2nd of 7, 4l behind Hab Sab (10-2) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp (5) gd in Oct.
Defuture Is Bright (IRE) 15-2 (10-8) In touch in rear, pushed along 3 out, never on terms, 6th of 7, 25 1/4l behind Fairway Freddy (11-6) at Kempton 2m 2f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Royal Plaza 12-1 (11-3) In touch, not fluent 2nd, pushed along 4 out, weakened 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp (4) gs in Oct.
