chased leader, smooth headway to lead after 3 out, pressed when outjumped at last, kept on same pace flat
mid division, ridden and outpaced 3 out, keeping on when no chance with leaders last, held on for distant 3rd
mid division, mistake 6th, headway on outside to press leaders 3 out, soon outpaced and weakened
led, headed 3 out, weakened thereafter
chased leader, headway on inside 3 out, ridden and outpaced last, made no impression
mid division, awkward 5th, headway travelling well 2 out, led narrowly last, kept on well flat
held up, pushed along home turn, never a factor
Olly Murphy's strike rate over the past couple of weeks is impressive and Thunder Rock will be fancied to boost his figures further after a satisfactory hurdling debut at Newton Abbot behind the potentially very useful Might I. His bumper form was solid too and his chance is there for all to see. However, there were a few long faces when COBBLERS DREAM came home third of four at Kempton and better was expected. He previously looked good at Warwick and is well worth another chance to show that latest run was a below par effort. Ritson ran quite nicely on hurdling debut at Carlisle and completes the shortlist in preference to Adjournment and Grand Du Nord.
Cobblers Dream (IRE) 10-11fav (11-0) Close up in rear, pushed along soon after 3 out, ridden 2 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 4, 6 3/4l behind Balko Saint (11-4) at Kempton 2m lst (1) gd in Oct.
Adjournment (IRE) 66-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, effort 3 out, soon outpaced, held from 2 out, 6th of 11, 8 1/4l behind Top Bandit (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m mdn (3) gd in Oct.
Grand Du Nord (FR) 8-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, steady headway back straight, ridden before home turn, responded to pressure entering home straight, ran on strongly to lead over 1f out, stayed on well, won at Hexham 2m (5) gd in Apr beating Fly By Milan (11-0) by 4l, 10 ran.
Le Grand Lion (FR) 15-2 (11-4) Chased leader until after 6th, struggling from next, well behind when pulled up before 3 out, at Worcester 2m 7f mdn (5) sft in Oct.
Ritson (IRE) 28-1 (10-12) Mid-division, went prominent 3 out, ridden before 2 out, kept on one pace, 4th of 11, 12 1/2l behind Kayf Hernando (10-12) at Carlisle 2m 4f (4) gd in Oct.
Thunder Rock (IRE) 3-1 (10-12) Held up, headway 3 out, ridden before 2 out, went second approaching last, no match for winner, 2nd of 7, 11l behind Might I (10-12) at Newton Abbot 2m 2f (4) hvy in Oct.
Big Changes 250-1 (11-0) Always towards rear, well beaten 3 out, 10th of 12, dist behind Gelino Bello (11-2) at Aintree 2m 4f mdn (4) gd in Oct.
Phoenix Strike 50-1 (10-10) Held up in rear, not always fluent, headway 3 out, went 3rd 2 out, no impression last, lost 3rd towards finish, 4th of 7, 10 1/2l behind Glencassley (11-5) at Wetherby 2m 4f (4) gd in Oct.
