held up, headway chasing leaders 3rd, challenged 3 out, led narrowly before 2 out and ran green in front, joined last, strongly pressed and stayed on gamely run-in to assert final 100 yards
raced keenly, led and soon clear, reduced lead 4 out, joined when hit next and headed, weakened before 2 out
hampered 1st, held up off the pace in 6th, headway approaching 3 out, hung left from next, went 2nd before last, upsides and mistake last, every chance until no extra final 100 yards
in mid-division when badly hampered 1st, towards rear, mistake 4 out, headway from 2 out, went 3rd last, kept on same pace, no chance to recover
slightly hampered 1st, always behind, mistake 4th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
slightly hampered 1st, towards rear, last and struggling 4 out, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders, led narrowly 3 out until edged left and headed soon after 2 out, lost 2nd before last, weakened last
chased leaders, pushed along and outpaced before 3 out, no chance after
chased clear leader, closer 4 out, led narrowly soon after 3 out, headed and blundered 2 out, weakened, not recover
Alan King sent out the winner of this 12 months ago and is doubly represented this year. Doctor Bartolo was rated 83 on the Flat, winning over 1m2f at Newbury in June, but Wayne Hutchinson prefers the proven stamina of THE BLUES MASTER. The grey only won a Kempton maiden on the level but stayed at least 1m6f and should be keeping on strongly at the end of this. Having already finished second at Sedgefield and Uttoxeter, Mick The Poser wasn’t beaten far when fourth at Carlisle last time. Irish import Richard Strauss could also go well but Satis House is looking exposed. Bid Adieu was very lightly raced on the Flat and it’s interesting that Thomas Cooper has sent the recent Dundalk winner across the Irish Sea for his first view of a hurdle while Falcon Sun should improve on a distant second at Uttoxeter.
Albert's Back 12-1 (8-7) Slow to break, soon in touch on outside, ridden over 4f out, weakened over 3f out, last of 8, 16 1/2l behind Michael's Mount (9-8) at Ripon 1m 4f hcp (4) sft in Sep.
Bid Adieu (IRE) 12-1 (9-5) Made all, took keen hold and clear halfway, reduced advantage and ridden 1 1/2f out, kept on well under pressure inside final furlong, won at Dundalk 1m 3f mdn pol in Nov beating Clear Skies (9-3) by 1 1/4l, 12 ran.
Doctor Bartolo (IRE) 7-2 (9-4) In touch in 4th place, headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 5, 2 3/4l behind Humble Hero (9-5) at Newcastle 1m 4f hcp (3) pol in Sep.
Falcon Sun (FR) 5-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, headway after 4 out, chased clear leaders next, stayed on to go modest 2nd approaching last, no chance with easy winner, 2nd of 10, 28l behind Knight Destroyer (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m (4) gs in Oct.
Geordielad 20-1 (8-5) Held up, ridden over 2f out, never on terms, 8th of 12, 17 3/4l behind Arcadian Sea (8-13) at Chelmsford City 1m 2f hcp (6) pol in Sep.
Mangata (FR) 50-1 (10-12) Always behind, pulled up 5 out, at Bangor 2m 1f mdn (4) sft in Nov.
Mick The Poser (IRE) 17-2 (10-0) Tracked leader, led before 2 out, headed 2 out, every chance last, no extra towards finish, 4th of 14, 1 1/2l behind Rhymers Stone (11-10) at Carlisle 2m 1f hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Prerogative (IRE) 11-10fav (9-3) Tracked leader until 6f out, not much room 2f out, 2nd final furlong, edged left and kept on, no impression on winner, 2nd of 7, 3 1/2l behind Unsuspected Girl (8-5) at Windsor 1m 2f stks (6) gs in Oct.
Richard Strauss (IRE) 8-1 (9-10) Broke well to lead narrowly, headed and raced 4th after 2f, 5th halfway, ridden under 2f out, ran on without threatening final furlong, 4th of 14, 1 1/4l behind Yamato (10-0) at Dundalk 1m hcp pol in Sep.
The Blues Master (IRE) 8-1 (9-1) In touch, headway over 1f out, chased leaders inside final furlong, never a threat, 3rd of 8, 4 1/4l behind Solo Mission (9-7) at Ripon 1m 4f hcp (5) gd in Aug.
Satis House 14-1 (10-5) Keen towards rear, headway 5th, went 3rd 2 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 7, 13l behind Nube Negra (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 1f (4) gs in Nov.
