in touch, headway 11th, led next, ridden 3 out, headed approaching last, one pace and lost 2nd flat
in touch, ridden and lost touch 5 out, finished in own time
tracked leaders, ridden 4 out, kept on same pace
in touch, ridden and weakened 4 out, pulled up 2 out
close up, ridden when fell 5 out
prominent, ridden 14th, soon weakened, pulled up 4 out
in touch, headway to track leaders 5 out, mistake next, weakened 2 out, pulled up quickly last
towards rear, ridden and headway 4 out, plugged on flat
close up, ridden 4 out, weakened approaching last
led, headed 12th, tracked leader, ridden 4 out, weakened flat
close up, lost touch 9th, pulled up 14th
close up, slow 12th and lost touch, ridden and headway 2 out, stayed on to go 2nd flat
in rear, ridden 11th, pulled up 13th
in rear, headway 4 out, ridden and every chance 2 out, led approaching next, ran on
Mance Rayder won at Doncaster last month and was staying on here subsequently when unseating his rider. He would probably have finished ahead of eventual sixth Kings Cave had he stood up. Eau Top will have stamina to prove and doesn’t look as open to improvement as some but, despite a 2lb rise for finishing third at Sedgefield, Quick Pick is still well treated on his hurdles form and now tried in a visor. Aim For Fame and Eagle De Guye are worth noting but Slainte Mhor is 0-8 and looks best over 2m4f. SHAUGHNESSY’s first run for Alison Hamilton came over a trip too short and followed a break and wind surgery. On his form for Oliver Sherwood, he looks to have a decent chance in a race like this.
Quick Pick (IRE) 16-5 (11-12) Chased leaders, ridden to go second after 3 out, kept on from 2 out, lost second final strides, 3rd of 8, 3 1/2l behind The Late Legend (11-9) at Sedgefield 3m 2f hcp (5) sft in Dec.
Kings Cave (IRE) 11-2 (11-0) Led narrowly, headed 14th, weakened after 4 out, 6th of 12, dist behind Rock On Barney (10-1) at Wetherby 3m hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Slainte Mhor (IRE) 10-1 (11-9) Led narrowly, headed after 1st, edged into lead before 4 out, ridden before last, headed flat, kept on but could not match winner, 2nd of 12, 1/2l behind Darius Des Sources (11-9) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp (5) hvy in Nov.
Mance Rayder (IRE) 7-1 (10-13) Towards rear, headway into midfield 13th, blundered and unseated rider 5 out, at Wetherby 3m hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Shaughnessy 9-2 (11-3) Jumped right throughout, midfield, hit 12th, not fluent 4 out, ridden and no extra from 3 out, 5th of 6, 26 1/4l behind Dundrum Wood (11-12) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Eau Top (FR) 11-4fav (11-7) Midfield, headway to chase leaders 8th, mistake 4 out, ridden approaching 3 out, one pace from 2 out, 4th of 11, 11l behind Cave Top (11-7) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Mill Race King (IRE) 16-1 (11-11) Held up in midfield, took closer order 14th, chased leaders 4 out, fell 3 out, at Leicester 2m 7f hcp (5) gs in Dec.
The Reaping Race (IRE) 7-1 (11-8) Held up in rear, not fluent 5th, pushed along before 3 out, soon ridden, made no impression from 2 out, 7th of 8, 21 1/4l behind The Late Legend (11-9) at Sedgefield 3m 2f hcp (5) sft in Dec.
Eagle De Guye (FR) 8-1 (11-0) In touch with leaders, ridden after 3 out, stayed on into third after last, no match for first two, 3rd of 11, 12l behind Light Flicker (10-8) at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp (5) sft in Dec.
Bene Regina (IRE) 12-1 (10-10) Just worse than midfield, pushed along before 6th, soon well behind and pulled up, at Carlisle 2m hcp (5) hvy in Dec.
Aim For Fame 200-1 (10-12) Mid-division, weakened after 3 out, tailed off, 10th of 11, dist behind Slip Road (10-12) at Chepstow 2m 3f (4) hvy in Dec.
Vintage Glen (IRE) 12-1 (10-0) Midfield, in touch with leaders before 4 out, went third 3 out, no extra and lost third before last, 4th of 11, 15 1/4l behind Light Flicker (10-8) at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp (5) sft in Dec.
Commanding Spirit (IRE) 18-1 (10-0) Disputed lead, led outright 4th, joined 13th, headed 16th, ridden after 3 out, no extra from 2 out, 4th of 8, 6 1/2l behind The Late Legend (11-9) at Sedgefield 3m 2f hcp (5) sft in Dec.
Trimmers Lane (IRE) 40-1 (10-7) Towards rear, detached from main pack before 4 out, never nearer, 9th of 14, dist behind City Never Sleeps (11-2) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (5) sft in Oct.
