held up in touch, tracked leader 3rd, travelled strongly to lead last (usual 2 out), pushed clear close home, easily
restrained in rear, modest headway before last (usual 2 out) when ridden, soon well beaten
keen behind leader, ridden to press leader last (usual 2 out), kept on flat but no chance with winner
led, ridden and headed before last (usual 2 out), no extra flat
held up in rear, brought down 2nd
prominent, relegated to mid-division before 3rd, ridden and no impression before last (usual 2 out)
held up in mid-division, ridden before last (usual 2 out), soon well beaten
mid-division relegated to rear 3rd where not fluent, some headway when awkward 5th, ridden and lost touch after 2 out (usual 3 out) no extra
held up towards rear, fell 2nd
NonRunner
KNAPPERS HILL is impossible to oppose as he bids to extend an unbeaten record. A smart performer in bumpers last season, he made mistakes when making a winning start over hurdles at Chepstow but that should have taught him plenty. The headstrong Kalyptra made a race of it with the selection’s stablemate Mon Frere here last month and might be booked for second again as Gala De Corton hasn’t shown much so far.
Knappers Hill (IRE) 2-13fav (10-12) Tracked leaders, slow 1st, went left and slow 4th, soon challenging travelling strongly, edged left and led before last, shaken up flat, stayed on, won at Chepstow 2m (4) gd in Oct beating Pikar (10-11) by 1l, 9 ran.
Blueblood (IRE) 10-1 (12-2) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden 3f out, no impression in 5th over 2f out, kept on one pace, 4th of 10, 25 1/2l behind Lispendense (12-2) at Ballinrobe 2m gd in Jul.
Earth Company (IRE) 5-1 (11-4) Midfield, pushed along over 3f out, faded over 1f out, 11th of 14, dist behind Parramount (11-4) at Stratford 2m mdn (5) gs in Mar.
Gala De Corton (FR) 9-4fav (10-12) Tracked leaders, pushed along 3f out, ridden and weakened next, 4th of 5, 23 1/2l behind Gentleman Valley (10-12) at Kempton 2m 5f (4) gd in Oct.
Gorcombe Moonshine 50-1 (10-13) In rear, headway into fifth over 4f out, ridden 2f out, one pace, 4th of 11, 18 1/4l behind Iberio (10-13) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f (5) gs in Oct.
Nelsons Rock 25-1 (10-12) Midfield, ridden after 3 out, weakened quickly, pulled up before 2 out, at Newton Abbot 2m 2f (4) hvy in Oct.
Rectory Oak (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, outpaced 3 out, soon weakened, 7th of 11, 35 3/4l behind Hell Red (11-0) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f (4) gd in Apr.
Samatian (IRE) 10-1 (10-13) Chased leader, ridden over 4 out, weakened tamely 2 out, 9th of 14, 25 1/4l behind Unanswered Prayers (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m mdn (4) gs in Oct.
Milanese Rose (IRE) 50-1 (10-5) Mid-division, weakened 2 out, 8th of 13, 34 1/2l behind Onemorefortheroad (11-8) at Stratford 2m (3) gd in Oct.
Kalyptra (FR) 11-4 (10-12) Raced keenly in clear lead, reduced lead 3 out, joined before 2 out, pushed along and headed narrowly last, ridden and not pace of winner closing stages, 2nd of 8, 2 3/4l behind Mon Frere (11-5) at Wincanton 1m 7f (4) gd in Oct.
William Ewart (IRE) 66-1 (11-2) Towards rear, headway into mid-division 4 out, lost touch from 3 out, 7th of 14, dist behind Mr Glass (11-4) at Chepstow 2m 3f mdn (4) gd in Oct.
What A Pleasure 150-1 (10-12) In rear, headway on outside into midfield back straight, ridden and edged right before home turn, close up entering home straight, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 16, 14 1/2l behind Meadowsweet (10-12) at Ludlow 2m (4) gs in Dec.
