held up towards rear, headway and blundered 5 out, ridden before 3 out, soon weakened
led and soon clear, about half a length down when fell 2 out
fell 1st
tracked leader to halfway, ridden and slightly hampered 2 out, no extra
held up towards rear and in touch, not fluent, outpaced 4 out, ridden and left in lead when a close 3rd 2 out, kept on, driven out
always behind
held up mid-division, went 2nd from halfway, challenged when blundered 4 out, every chance from last, kept on and held towards finish
Kupatana didn’t get far when odds-on here on Boxing Day having proved no match for Knocknanuss off this mark at Newbury earlier. Early promise is evaporating while Midnight Maestro jumped poorly on his chasing bow at Uttoxeter. ENOLA GAY has yet to finish out of the frame in four runs over fences and should be winning soon. He is almost guaranteed to run his race again, which is more than can be said about a few of his rivals. Barton Knoll was the outsider of three when making all at Doncaster but Caltex ran well for second at Aintree and Molineaux was badly hampered when unseating his rider at Exeter. The Dellercheckout failed to win over hurdles but should do better over fences and will know what’s required.
Caltex (FR) 5-1 (11-4) Jumped right, chased leaders, challenged 8th, led 9th, headed next, stayed on from 2 out, no impression on winner, 2nd of 10, 3 1/4l behind Ballyhill (11-11) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Kupatana (IRE) 5-6fav (11-5) Led, blundered and unseated rider 4th, at Wincanton 2m 4f (3) gs in Dec.
Midnight Maestro 14-1 (11-0) Mid-division, mistake 9th, weakened before 4 out, 11th of 16, dist behind Crucial Role (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f (3) sft in Dec.
Barton Knoll 25-1 (11-0) Made all, clear before 4 out, easily, won at Doncaster 2m 3f (4) gd in Dec beating Gowiththeflow (11-0) by dist, 3 ran.
Molineaux (IRE) 6-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, mistake 3rd, effort when hampered and unseated rider 2 out, at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
The Dellercheckout (IRE) 11-2 (11-12) Mid-division, headway on outside after 5th, challenged before 3 out until after 2 out, lost 2nd flat, no extra, 3rd of 10, 7 1/2l behind Burrows Park (11-2) at Ludlow 2m 5f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Enola Gay (FR) 5-2fav (11-7) With leader, led narrowly 4th, headed 2 out, soon ridden, kept on and every chance flat, no extra and held towards finish, 2nd of 8, 2 1/4l behind Swift Crusador (11-10) at Sandown 2m hcp (3) sft in Dec.
