chased leader, ridden and outpaced 5 out, headway 3 out when mistake and pulled up soon after
prominent, pushed along and weakened 5 out, pulled up after 3 out
mid division, headway upsides leaders 4 out, pushed along and weakened 3 out
led, not fluent 6th, pressed 4 out, ridden and headed 3 out, weakened thereafter
mid division, pushed along off pace 4 out, plugged on for distant 5th
held up, mistake 4th, pushed along and struggling in rear 5 out, tailed off
in rear, headway tracking leaders 4 out, ridden to dispute lead 3 out, went few lengths clear 2 out, ran on well from last, readily
held up, ridden and outpaced 5 out, plugged on from 3 out, late headway for 3rd
Lord Bryan has won five times over fences but recent efforts have left much to be desired. Nebuchadnezzar is just 1-23 so also needs to up his game but cheekpieces are applied today. Rosmuc Relay has gone backwards since scoring at Uttoxeter in March and he fell at Lingfield in October in a race in which Jack Valentine finished fourth. The latter will strip fitter today and Peur De Rien and Young O'Leary can also go well but ESPRIT DE SOMOZA is surely better than he’s shown so far over fences and has dropped to a decent mark with the in-form Chester Williams taking off a further 3lb. White Moon has plummeted down the ratings but appears to have lost the plot.
Jack Valentine (IRE) 12-1 (11-7) Chased leader, led on long run before 3 out, headed approaching 3 out, lost 2nd 3 out, weakened into 4th run-in, 4th of 12, 28l behind Sopran Thor (11-10) at Lingfield 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Oct.
Rosmuc Relay (IRE) 16-1 (11-7) In mid-division when mistake and lost place 2nd, towards rear, tailed off 8th, pulled up before 3 out, at Lingfield 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Oct.
White Moon (GER) 10-3 (11-7) Raced in mid-division, ridden 3 out and headway to track leader, tiring before last, stayed on one pace, 5th of 11, 21l behind Favori De Sivola (10-12) at Exeter 3m hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Nebuchadnezzar (FR) 28-1 (11-9) Chased leaders out wide, not fluent 7th, weakened 4 out, 4th of 7, dist behind Brief Ambition (11-7) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Iron Mike 18-1 (11-5) Held up in rear, slow 10th, steady headway 13th, ridden before 3 out, in touch 2 out, one pace, 4th of 6, 4 1/2l behind Kauto The King (12-2) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Lord Bryan (IRE) 12-1 (10-11) Led, headed 2nd, disputed lead 9th, headed and soon beaten 4 out, last of 3, dist behind Neville's Cross (11-12) at Hereford 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Peur De Rien (FR) 13-2 (11-12) Tracked leader, ridden and outpaced 3 out, weakened thereafter, 4th of 9, 15 3/4l behind The Mighty Arc (11-8) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Esprit De Somoza (FR) 6-1 (11-7) Tracked clear leading pair, closed 4th, ridden 2 out, kept on same pace, 4th of 7, 11 1/2l behind Getalead (11-7) at Warwick 2m 3f hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Young O'Leary (IRE) 17-2 (11-3) Led early, tracked leading pair, pushed along 3 out, ridden next, stayed on stayed on run in, 2nd of 6, 3/4l behind Nelsons Rock (10-7) at Taunton 3m hcp (4) gd in Nov.
