in touch, in rear, jumped left 4 out, jumped left and weakened next
tracked leaders, blundered and unseated rider 2nd
chased leaders, on outside, outpaced after 4 out, well beaten before next, snatched 4th close home
tracked leader until after 2 out, 3rd and beaten last, one pace
tracked leaders, disputing 2nd 8th, ridden 3 out, lost place next, weakened
led, jumped left at times, mistake 4 out, headed last, stayed on same pace flat
in rear, mistake 2nd, not fluent 4th, not much room 4 out, headway next, 2nd after 2 out, led last, edged right and drew clear flat
Istimraar arrives on the back of three successive seconds but his last run, a close second in a selling hurdle, is a far cry from the task facing him now. Bredon Hill Lad is a competent handicapper but may need this first run since April. JACKTHEJOURNEYMAN is not the most reliable to say the least but his last two efforts do put him in here with excellent claims off what remains a feasible mark and if he can maintain recent consistency he should go close. The Yank and No No Cardinal are closely handicapped on Newton Abbot running last month and are preferred in that order as the latter has since finished tailed off behind the selection.
Istimraar (IRE) 9-4 (10-12) Led after 1st, pressed 2 out, ridden and headed narrowly approaching last, led again soon after, kept on, headed towards finish, 2nd of 9, 1/2l behind Honour Promise (10-5) at Chepstow 2m (5) gs in Oct.
The Yank 2-1fav (11-4) Made most to after 6th, pressed leader, led again narrowly 4 out, ridden after last, held on under pressure flat, won at Newton Abbot 2m hcp (4) gd in Oct beating No No Cardinal (10-0) by nk, 6 ran.
Bredon Hill Lad 10-3 (11-12) Tracked leader until 5th, ridden 8th, not fluent 4 out, went 2nd again next, 2 lengths down when left well clear 2 out, won at Ffos Las 2m hcp (5) sft in Apr beating Petit Ecuyer (10-0) by 20l, 6 ran.
Jackthejourneyman (IRE) 9-2cfav (11-9) Prominent, led before omitted 2 out, hard driven, all out (1 fence omitted), won at Huntingdon 2m hcp (4) gd in Oct beating Norse Light (11-8) by 1l, 9 ran.
No No Cardinal (IRE) 9-2cfav (10-11) Held up towards rear, struggling after 4 out, never dangerous, 7th of 9, dist behind Jackthejourneyman (11-9) at Huntingdon 2m hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Shintori (FR) 33-1 (10-7) Held up in last pair, close up 5th, outpaced 7th, soon lost touch, no chance with clear pair before 4 out, ridden out when pressed for remote 3rd flat, 3rd of 4, dist behind Old Guard (11-2) at Exeter 2m 1f (4) gd in Oct.
Triggywinkle (FR) 7-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, closed 7th, not fluent 9th, outpaced before 3 out, weakened next, 3rd of 4, 33l behind Galros Lady (10-0) at Lingfield 2m 4f hcp (5) gf in Nov.
