held up in mid-division on outside, closed 4th, lost place 8th, blundered badly when losing touch 4 out
mid-division, headway on inside 5th, mistake 8th, outpaced when not fluent 2 out, rallied and 2 lengths 2nd when mistake last, went left and unseated rider
prominent, ridden before 8h, lost place 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, pushed along after 7th, headway next, outpaced before 3 out, weakened approaching next
towards rear, hampered 3rd, not fluent 7th, well behind 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders, 2nd 5th, led 8th, headed before 2 out, stayed on flat
chased leaders, lost place before 4th, tailed off before 8th, pulled up after
led early, prominent, fell 3rd
always in rear
not always fluent, soon led, pecked 6th, headed 8th, weakened after 3 out
held up towards rear, pushed along and headway 8th, led before jumping left 2 out, driven out
chased leaders, lost place 8th, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
held up in rear, headway 4 out, driven after 3 out, not fluent 2 out, switched right flat, stayed on, went 3rd close home
mid-division, headway 2nd, challenged after 3 out until 2 out, no extra towards finish
NonRunner
A really competitive qualifier as several of these will likely be aimed at the final itself in March. Lough Derg Leader is on a steep upward curve but this is easily his toughest task to date. Tobefair has been a real money-spinner for connections while Saint John Henry got back to winning ways over course and distance on New Year’s Eve. Clondaw Cian made a winning reappearance and won over 3m between the flags. Barney Dwan has had no luck over fences this season but this may be a confidence-booster. Nigel Twiston-Davies holds a strong hand and COGRY is fancied to see off stablemate Scotchtown and follow up his victory at Cheltenham, where he revelled in the mud.
Clondaw Cian (IRE) 12-1 (11-2) Mid-division, headway after 4 out, chased leaders next, every chance last, soon led, hard ridden, ran on well, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Nov beating Solatentif (11-2) by 3 1/2l, 16 ran.
Barney Dwan (IRE) 7-4fav (11-0) Held up, jumped left and not fluent 3rd, mistake 5th, in touch 9th, went 2nd before 4 out, every chance when brought down 3 out, at Wincanton 2m 4f (3) gs in Dec.
Cogry 9-2 (10-10) Tracked leader, led after 6th, ridden and headed before last, led again 100 yards out, stayed on gamely, won at Cheltenham 3m hcp (2) sft in Jan beating Rocklander (10-13) by nk, 7 ran.
Lough Derg Leader (IRE) 2-1fav (11-12) Held up in last, pushed along after 4 out, headway before 3 out, led approaching last, soon clear, easily, won at Doncaster 3m hcp (4) gd in Nov beating Handsome Sam (11-5) by 8l, 7 ran.
Dan Emmett (USA) 16-1 (11-4) Mid-division, fell 5th, at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Scotchtown (IRE) 4-6fav (11-6) Led, jumped right 2 out, soon ridden, jumped right, not fluent and headed last, stayed on, just held, 2nd of 10, nk behind Back To The Thatch (10-12) at Bangor 2m 7f (3) sft in Dec.
Buddy Bolero (IRE) 25-1 (11-4) Mistakes,always behind, blundered badly 3rd, pushed along and struggling before 12th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out, at Kempton 3m hcp (2) gd in Dec.
Masters Hill (IRE) 16-1 (11-5) Always behind, 6th of 11, 34 1/2l behind Mr Mix (11-11) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Fourth Act (IRE) 12-1 (10-8) Hampered 1st, towards rear, tailed off 12th, mistake 15th, pulled up before 2 out, at Ascot 3m hcp lst (1) gs in Dec.
Saint John Henry (FR) 15-2 (11-12) With leader, led 7th, ridden after 4 out, drew clear after next, kept on, won at Warwick 3m 2f hcp (4) sft in Dec beating Giveitachance (10-8) by 6l, 12 ran.
Tobefair 9-2 (11-3) Held up behind, headway 5th, driven to chase front pair after 4 out, stayed on approaching last, soon ridden, led closing stages, won at Chepstow 3m hcp (3) gd in Dec beating Dolores Delightful (11-12) by 1l, 15 ran.
Kilgeel Hill (IRE) 20-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, led approaching 2 out, joined 2 out, ridden and headed between last two, ridden and one pace iin 3rd before last, no impression when stumbled badly last, 3rd of 17, 9l behind As De Mee (11-8) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (1) gs in Mar.
Bon Enfant (FR) 7-1 (11-7) Mid-division, ridden after 7th, no impression 3 out, mistake 2 out, 10th of 13, dist behind Agincourt Reef (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 5f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
City Supreme (IRE) 10-1 (10-13) Chased leaders, led 3 out, joined 2 out, ridden and narrowly headed last, 3rd and one pace run-in, 3rd of 12, 3l behind Kalondra (11-12) at Ascot 2m 6f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Minstrels Gallery (IRE) 9-2 (11-4) Hit 1st, tracked winner until pushed along 2 out, ridden and no impression when lost 3rd between last 2, went left and weakened last, 4th of 6, 6l behind Midnight Jazz (11-12) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Dec.
