often jumped left, made all, not fluent 3rd, clear 4 out, stayed on strongly from next, unchallenged
tracked leading trio, went 3rd 6th, pecked next, slow jump and dropped to 4th 8th, mistake 9th, went 3rd again 10th, chased winner before 4 out, well held when mistake 2 out
tracked winner, ran in snatches, ridden after 12th, driven and lost 2nd before 4 out, weakened before 3 out, tailed off
tracked leading pair, mistake 3rd, not fluent and dropped to 4th at 6th, went 3rd again 8th until 10th, blundered and behind next, rallied 4 out, went 3rd 3 out, one pace and no impression when blundered next
Frank The Slink looks out of this but Tiptoeaway was undone by fast ground at Leicester last time and is better judged on his comfortable success over this trip at Newcastle in November. CUCUMBER RUN was beaten at odds of 1/4 in a three-horse event at Plumpton where he made several mistakes. He would be suited by a bigger field and stronger gallop but should just about have the edge over the promising Mac Aeda, an impressive winner over the C&D last month but more likely to be suited by a longer trip in time.
Cucumber Run (IRE) 1-4fav (11-4) Tracked leading pair, went left not fluent and stumbled 2nd, went left next, tracked winner 8th, challenged from 3 out, upsides from 2 out, driven before last, edged right flat, rallied and strong challenge close home, just held, 2nd of 3, hd behind Spear Thistle (11-0) at Plumpton 2m 1f nov chs (3) sft in Dec.
Mac Aeda 11-1 (10-13) Held up in 4th, went 2nd before 4 out, led after 2 out, clear last, ridden out flat, won at Wetherby 2m 4f nov chs (3) sft in Dec beating Trustan Times (11-4) by 5l, 5 ran.
Tiptoeaway (IRE) 11-2 (11-7) Held up in touch, outpaced 5 out, never able to challenge, 5th of 6, 27l behind Loose Preformer (10-9) at Leicester 2m 7f nov chs (4) gd in Dec.
Frank The Slink 33-1 (11-0) Held up in last pair in touch, outpaced 4 out, soon beaten, tailed off, last of 7, well behind Carrickboy (11-0) at Catterick 2m 3f beg chase (4) gs.
