held up towards rear, headway before 7 out, chased leaders before 4 out, every chance 2 out, led last, held on well
with leader, ridden and one pace after 2 out
behind, not fluent 1st, headway before 6 out, weakened from 2 out
behind, headway after 5 out, weakened before 3 out
led, not fluent and headed last, kept on and held towards finish
tracked leader, outpaced 5 out, headway before 4 out, weakened from 2 out
in touch, went 3rd before last, kept on same pace
Brian Ellison complicates matters with two entries. Conor O'Farrell was on board when Fair Loch just held on at Market Rasen and keeps the ride, though his mount wouldn't want the ground too testing. PISTOL PARK has won three times since transferred to North Yorkshire and Brian Hughes has ridden him on each occasion. He's had a wind operation since running moderately at Haydock and can get back to winning ways. Hughes also rode Dresden to victory at Catterick last month so will know what's required to take on Henry Oliver's charge, who has gone up 7lb but has won from higher marks in the past. Caraline has done well to win five races over fences, including here on Boxing Day, while Swift Crusador has only had three starts over regulation fences and shown enough ability to suggest he'll be winning soon.
Dresden (IRE) 5-2jfav (12-0) Chased leader, led before 2 out, clear before last, kept on strongly, won at Catterick 2m hcp (3) sft in Jan beating Discoverie (10-10) by 4l, 7 ran.
Pistol Park (FR) 11-4 (11-12) Led until 7th, slow next, jumped left 9th, weakened from 2 out, 4th of 6, 26 1/2l behind Ubaltique (10-11) at Haydock 2m hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Fair Loch 12-1 (12-0) Held up in touch on outside, smooth headway into 2nd after 4 out, soon poised to challenge, led going well before next, clear 2 out, ridden out flat, held on, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp (4) sft in Dec beating Boagrius (12-0) by 2 1/4l, 6 ran.
Swift Crusador 5-2jfav (11-5) Took keen hold, chased winner 2nd until before 6th, not fluent 7th, 2nd again 8th until 2 out, lost 3rd last, 4th of 6, 15 1/2l behind Big Jim (10-13) at Warwick 2m hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Caraline (FR) 13-2 (11-1) Tracked leader, led 1st, headed before 4 out, tracked leader, led before last, headed last, no extra and lost 2nd place run-in, 3rd of 4, 6 1/2l behind Catamaran Du Seuil (11-8) at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp (3) hvy in Jan.
Vengeur De Guye (FR) 15-2 (11-12) Led 4th, tracked leader, challenged 2 out, led before last, headed run-in, no chance with winner, 2nd of 5, 16l behind Whitsundays (11-1) at Kelso 2m 1f hcp (4) hvy in Jan.
Uno Valoroso (FR) 9-4 (11-2) Close up, led from 4th, blundered 6th, headed before last, soon weakened, 3rd of 5, 29l behind Whitsundays (11-1) at Kelso 2m 1f hcp (4) hvy in Jan.
