jumped left on occasion, led, increased tempo before 8th, jumped badly left and joined 9th, headed next, ran around approaching 2 out, edged left last, ridden and rallied briefly flat, kept on one pace final 110yds
towards rear, headway into midfield 5th, pushed along 3 out, soon struggling
towards rear, pulled up before 2 out
prominent, went second before 8th, joined leader 9th, led next, pushed along and headed before 2 out, soon weakened
midfield, jumped left 3rd, ridden after 3 out, never dangerous
chased leaders, lost place 9th, pushed along after 3 out, plugged on one pace from 2 out
in rear, jumped slowly 1st and 2nd, pushed along before 7th, tailed off 3 out
midfield, went third 3 out, good headway to lead approaching 2 out, in control when blundered last, soon ridden, kept on flat
held up in behind leaders, nudged along after 6th, pushed along 9th, faded after 3 out, pulled up before next
midfield, pushed along 3 out, plugged on after last, made no impression
prominent, slow 3rd, mistake 8th, pushed along after next, lost third 3 out, soon outpaced, well held but plugged on one pace from 2 out
NonRunner
Knowsley Road’s defection may have opened the door for TOP TARGET to follow up his victory at Wetherby, where he won a shade cosily. The Gooner was very green when odds-on at Carlisle but he’ll know more today and another winning pointer, Pedley Wood is surely better than he showed at Fontwell but De Wanted Warrior is probably a bigger danger as he was the stable second string when third at Chepstow.
Top Target (IRE) 9-2 (11-0) Close up, disputed lead 3rd, headed 5th, joined next, led again before 7th, headed 9th, led again before 3 out, ran on well from 2 out, won at Wetherby 2m 5f (4) sft in Dec beating Solar Sovereign (11-0) by 3 1/2l, 14 ran.
Caeruleum 125-1 (11-0) Rear of mid-division, pushed along and well beaten before 3 out, 7th of 14, dist behind Hitching Jacking (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f (4) gs in Dec.
Champersgalore 200-1 (11-4) Towards rear of mid-division, ridden and weakening before 3 out, pulled up, at Chepstow 2m 3f mdn (4) gs in Nov.
De Wanted Warrior (IRE) 50-1 (11-0) Towards rear, hit 5th, pushed along after 4 out, stayed on steadily from 3 out, went 3rd approaching last where not fluent, never nearer, 3rd of 9, 7 1/4l behind Makin'yourmindup (11-7) at Chepstow 3m (4) gs in Dec.
Exmoor Forest (IRE) 300-1 (11-0) Always behind, 8th of 14, dist behind Hurricane Highway (11-0) at Ffos Las 2m 4f (4) sft in Dec.
Herakles Westwood (FR) 28-1 (11-5) Never closer than mid-division, 9th of 15, 31 1/2l behind Altobelli (11-5) at Ffos Las 2m mdn (4) sft in Dec.
Imprevu Du Large (FR) 20-1 (11-0) Loose before start, went left start, pushed along and weakened home turn, 11th of 14, 28l behind Micronormous (10-7) at Exeter 2m 1f (4) gd in Nov.
I Shut That D'or (FR) 14-1 (11-0) Mid-division, effort 3 out, no impression, well held by front pair 2 out, 5th of 10, 34 1/4l behind American Sniper (11-7) at Taunton 2m (4) gd in Nov.
Jill's Memory Geordieland gelding out of Just Fee.
Pedley Wood (IRE) 3-1 (11-0) Mid-division, ridden and weakened from 3 out, 6th of 8, 22 1/4l behind Maclaine (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 2f (4) gd in Nov.
The Gooner (IRE) 8-11fav (10-13) Chased front pair, novicey at times, slow jump 2nd, reminders after 6th, pushed along and lost ground after 3 out, ridden before 2 out, plugged on and took 3rd after 2 out, never troubled leaders, 3rd of 6, 19 3/4l behind Knockanore (11-0) at Carlisle 2m 3f (4) sft in Nov.
Knowsley Road (IRE) 4-5fav (11-7) Made all, not fluent 3 out, ridden and hung left before 2 out, faced challenge and edged left on run to last, soon ridden, good jump final flight and asserted run-in, ran on strongly and won going away, won at Chepstow 2m 3f (4) gs in Dec beating Future Investment (11-0) by 4 1/2l, 9 ran.
