held up, not much room 3rd, headway 12th, led 15th, pecked slightly 4 out, clear 2 out, went right last, kept on gamely
prominent, led before 14th, headed next, every chance 4 out, not fluent 3 out, soon lost 2nd, weakened from 2 out, lost 3rd flat
held up, not fluent 3rd or 12th, headway 14th, weakened 17th, soon pulled up
led 2nd until 3rd, lost place when mistake 6th, closed next, went left 12th, 4th and struggling 4 out, blundered badly 3 out, no impression after, went 3rd flat
led until 2nd, led next, headed 4th, led 6th, headed before 14th, lost place 16th, well beaten after next, soon pulled up
held up, slow 5th, headway 14th, lost place 16th, well beaten 5th 4 out, pulled up after
prominent, led 4th, headed 6th, outpaced 14th, closed 17th, went 2nd after 3 out, mistake 2 out, jumped right last, no impression on winner, plugged on
GORSKY ISLAND’s last win came two years ago but it was achieved off a higher mark. If ready for his first run since June, he could be the one to beat as he’s a stout stayer. Jennys Surprise won at Uttoxeter last month and is only 6lb higher. She’s still not badly treated and is much respected. Wizards Bridge has a decent strike-rate and has already won twice at Fontwell this year but Daklondike never threatened at Chepstow after impressing at Wetherby, though that run may have come too soon. Pink Gin will have benefited from his second at Ffos Las and is unexposed over fences while Bugsie Malone is slipping down the weights and can’t be ignored.
Daklondike (IRE) Evensfav (12-4) Towards rear, pushed along and outpaced from 1th, plugged on from 4 out, never dangerous, 4th of 12, 12 1/2l behind Paddy The Oscar (10-13) at Chepstow 3m hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Jennys Surprise (IRE) 11-1 (10-13) Held up, good headway chasing leaders 8th, 2nd before 13th, led next, hit 3 out, 2 lengths ahead last, kept on well run-in, won at Uttoxeter 3m 2f hcp (3) gs in Nov beating Smooth Stepper (11-11) by 2l, 9 ran.
Gorsky Island 5-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, good headway tracking leaders approaching 4 out, led after 2 out until ridden before last, chased winner, kept on under pressure run-in, just held, 2nd of 7, 3/4l behind Optimistic Bias (11-6) at Stratford 3m 4f hcp (3) gd in Jun.
Wizards Bridge 6-1 (11-5) Mid-division in touch, chased leaders 5 out, ridden after 2 out, rallied and in touch last, no extra flat, 4th of 10, 4 1/2l behind Ask The Weatherman (12-4) at Exeter 3m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Bugsie Malone (IRE) 7-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, challenged 17th, ridden before 3 out, led before 2 out, headed before last, no extra, 4th of 10, 17 1/2l behind Cresswell Breeze (11-7) at Fontwell 3m 4f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Gardiners Hill (IRE) 16-1 (11-1) Held up behind when hampered and brought down 2nd, at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (4) hvy in Nov.
Pink Gin 9-2jfav (11-9) Tracked leaders, mistake 3rd, challenged 11th, led before 4 out, ridden and headed last, no impression flat, 2nd of 10, 5l behind Steel Native (10-5) at Ffos Las 3m hcp (4) sft in Nov.
