led, pushed along after 3f out, headed approaching last, stayed on and led again towards finish
tracked leaders, going easily before 2 out, led narrowly approaching last, no extra and headed final strides
midfield, outpaced after 4 out, minor headway 2 out, no impression
tracked leaders, pushed along after 4 out, ridden and weakened after 2 out
in rear, mistake and jockey lost iron 1st, mistake 7th, soon outpaced, weakened after 2 out
prominent, ridden after 3 out, weakened after 2 out
in touch with leaders, pushed along before 3 out, soon beaten
held up in rear, pushed along after 4 out, soon no impression
midfield, soon dropped to rear, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
towards rear, pushed along after 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
Fern Hill stayed on well to score over a slightly shorter trip here three weeks ago and looks progressive but he might struggle to beat last month’s impressive Stratford winner WITNESS PROTECTION off level weights. Conceal was beaten 14 lengths when runner-up at Sedgefield but that was still a better effort than Let Me Be’s fifth at Catterick and Ben Pauling’s charge will know more today.
Fern Hill (IRE) 4-1 (10-12) Slight lead until approaching 6th, pressed leader challenged and hit last, led soon after, driven and stayed on strongly, won at Wetherby 2m 4f (4) sft in Nov beating Poldark Cross (10-12) by 5 1/2l, 9 ran.
Witness Protection (IRE) 12-1 (10-12) Tracked leader, hit front travelling strongly after 2 out, nudged to easily go clear, eased down, won at Stratford 2m 3f (4) gs in Nov beating Fantastikas (10-12) by 10l, 12 ran.
Ask The Question (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, pushed along before 7th, outpaced before 3 out, plugged on one pace from last, 5th of 8, 36l behind C'Est Le Bonheur (11-0) at Sedgefield 2m 4f mdn (4) gd in Nov.
Ballintogher Boy (IRE) 2-1 (11-11) Chsd ldrs in 3rd, 2nd aftr 5th, ld aftr 2out, hdd well bef last & wknd, 6l 3rd when pu just bef last, at Bandon 3m mdn sft in Mar.
Contrebasse 28-1 (10-12) Slightly better than mid-division early before settling just behind leaders, pushed along on run to 3 out, not quicken and faded out of contention, 9th of 13, 35 1/2l behind Against All Odds (10-5) at Catterick 2m 3f (4) gd in Nov.
First Illusion (IRE) (11-11) Ww in rr, slt prog to 6th 1/2way, further prog to cl 3rd bef 5out, held in 2l 2nd when fell 2out, at Damma House 3m mdn sft in Nov.
Henry Gondoff 20-1 (11-2) Held up in touch, upsides 3rd, led narrowly 4th, joined 5th, headed 6th, slow jump 4 out and ridden, weakened 3 out, hit 2 out, 12th of 16, dist behind Bear Ghylls (11-2) at Lingfield 2m 3f mdn (4) sft in Oct.
Let Me Be (IRE) 7-1 (10-12) Mid-division, improved to track leaders 3 out, effort approaching 2 out, stayed on same pace, 5th of 13, 5 1/2l behind Against All Odds (10-5) at Catterick 2m 3f (4) gd in Nov.
Skipness 80-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, pushed along with a circuit to go, ridden along and outpaced back straight, made some late headway final furlong, 6th of 8, 16 1/2l behind Tardree (11-0) at Sedgefield 2m 1f (5) gd in Nov.
Tunder Strike (IRE) 200-1 (10-12) Led, headed before 4th, dropped to rear and struggling 3 out, soon tailed off, last of 5, dist behind Stoner's Choice (11-10) at Market Rasen 2m 3f (4) gd in Nov.
Western Starlet (IRE) 40-1 (10-12) Towards rear, ridden and weakened 3 out, tailed off, 9th of 10, dist behind Sending Love (10-12) at Ffos Las 2m 4f mdn (4) sft in Nov.
Conceal (IRE) 11-1 (10-12) Held up in touch, not fluent 4th, ridden to chase leaders 2 out, one pace before last, 2nd of 12, 14l behind Here Comes Johny (11-5) at Sedgefield 2m 5f (4) gs in Nov.
