held up towards rear on outside, headway 4 out, went 4th last, rider dropped rein flat, stayed on same pace
held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, weakened next
held up towards rear, headway 4 out, weakened last
prominent, led after 7th, driven and headed flat, held towards finish
held up in rear, ridden and headway 3 out, 3rd before 2 out, stayed on flat
chased leaders, lost place when slow 3rd, headway before 8th, weakened before last
held up towards rear, ridden before 8th, behind 4 out, fell 2 out
led until after 1st, prominent, not fluent 5th, ridden 4 out, weakened after next
in touch in mid-division on inside, not fluent 4th, outpaced before 8th, soon behind, tailed off 4 out, pulled up after
chased leaders, not fluent 3 out, went 2nd before next, challenged last, led flat, stayed on well
held up in mid-division, not fluent 5th, slow 8th, lost place before 3 out, soon behind, pulled up
led after 1st, not fluent 7th, soon headed, weakened after 3 out
Tobefair is 12lb higher than when winning this last year and still paying the price for last season’s exploits. No Hassle Hoff also looks a few pounds too high at present but Prime Venture’s easy win at Ffos Las merited a steep rise. BLACK IVORY (NAP) had only three rivals at Aintree last month but was always travelling like the winner and is clearly on an upward curve. He may be able to shrug off a 6lb rise with Jamie Hamilton’s claim taking off a chunk of the extra. Nicky Martin has coaxed Sykes back to his best and we will be seeing more of The Organist over this longer trip after her win at Newbury. Kris Spin and Malapie are both in good form but upped in class today.
Prime Venture (IRE) 8-11fav (11-12) Held up towards rear, headway on inside 4th, challenged from 3 out, led approaching last, clear flat, comfortably, won at Ffos Las 3m hcp (3) sft in Nov beating Fingerontheswitch (11-9) by 8l, 9 ran.
No Hassle Hoff (IRE) 8-1 (10-11) Mid-division, ridden after 4 out, stayed on to take modest 4th after last, never troubled leaders, 4th of 16, 24 3/4l behind Sam Spinner (10-9) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp (1) hvy in Nov.
The Organist (IRE) 12-1 (11-3) Held up towards rear, steady headway approaching 3 out, went 3rd between last 2, closed to lead final 150 yards, stayed on strongly, won at Newbury 3m hcp (2) sft in Dec beating Forza Milan (11-4) by 1 1/2l, 11 ran.
Sykes (IRE) 33-1 (11-2) Tracked leader, led 9th, 3 lengths clear when hit last, headed inside final 100 yards, kept on, 2nd of 11, 1 3/4l behind Arthur's Gift (10-11) at Cheltenham 3m hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Tobefair 16-1 (11-10) Tracked leader, hard ridden to challenge approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 9th of 12, 21l behind Dell' Arca (11-10) at Newbury 3m hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Kris Spin (IRE) 5-1 (11-10) In touch, blundered 1st, went 3rd place before 3 out, ridden before 2 out, chased winner run-in, no impression, 2nd of 8, 6l behind Ice Cool Champs (11-1) at Uttoxeter 2m 7f hcp (3) hvy in Nov.
Fly Camp (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Held up in mid-division, headway before 3 out, weakened approaching last, 10th of 11, 27 1/4l behind Arthur's Gift (10-11) at Cheltenham 3m hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Templeross (IRE) 14-1 (10-1) Soon behind and not travel well, lost touch when pulled up after 7th, at Haydock 2m 7f hcp (1) hvy in Nov.
Join The Clan (IRE) 16-1 (10-10) Held up in rear, not fluent 10th, well beaten after 16th, 17th of 20, dist behind Tempestatefloresco (11-2) at Uttoxeter 3m 2f hcp lst (1) gd in Jul.
Black Ivory 13-8 (10-7) Tracked leader from 2nd, led 2 out, clear flat, stayed on, won at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (2) hvy in Dec beating Le Breuil (11-12) by 6l, 4 ran.
Cobolobo (FR) 5-1 (11-12) Prominent, led 3rd, ridden and headed 4 out, weakened next, last of 8, 35l behind Sykes (11-11) at Ffos Las 2m 6f hcp (3) hvy in Nov.
Malapie (IRE) 10-3fav (11-8) Tracked leaders, driven after 3 out, ridden after next, rallied and every chance last, led flat, all out, won at Uttoxeter 2m 7f hcp (4) sft in Dec beating Maguire's Glen (11-7) by 2 3/4l, 7 ran.
