led and set good pace, flicked 3rd and 5th, clear after 3 out until next, joined last, headed 150 yards out, no extra in 3rd soon after
stumbled 1st, tracked clear leader, pushed along and closer before 2 out, every chance after last, one pace towards finish
chased leaders, weakened 2 out
waited with in close 5th, smooth headway approaching 2 out, came between horses and produced to challenge last, driven to lead final 150 yards kept on gamely
keen tracking leaders on inside, mistake 2nd, flattened 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off
NonRunner
Mick Thonic made most and looked like hanging on here nine days ago until foiled by the late thrust of Equus Amadeus. Volpone Jelois was eight lengths behind in third and looks held. Cotton Club went backwards over hurdles over the summer but MAGICAL THOMAS won at Stratford and Fontwell and has his ground again. Noel Fehily is also a positive jockey booking and he would have gone close to completing a hat-trick last time had he not tried to take the final two hurdles by the roots. Borak looks a few pounds too high now but is still preferred to Winter Soldier.
Mick Thonic (FR) 12-1 (10-12) Led after 1st, clear before 3 out, ridden and headed inside final 150 yards, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 8, 1/2l behind Equus Amadeus (11-12) at Wincanton 1m 7f hcp (3) gf in Oct.
Volpone Jelois (FR) 9-2 (10-13) Chased leader, reached for 3 out, pushed along and hung right before 2 out, lost 2nd after 2 out, one pace in 3rd, 3rd of 8, 8 1/2l behind Equus Amadeus (11-12) at Wincanton 1m 7f hcp (3) gf in Oct.
Cotton Club (IRE) 50-1 (9-9) Mid-division, ridden 2f out, kept on same pace, never able to challenge, 6th of 11, 3 1/4l behind Charlie D (8-7) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp (4) pol in Oct.
Borak (IRE) 11-4 (11-0) Chased leaders, effort 3 out, weakened next, last of 6, 22 1/2l behind Beach Break (11-11) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp (4) gd in Aug.
Winter Soldier (FR) 9-1 (11-4) Mid-division early, 9th after halfway, no extra straight, 12th of 18, dist behind Magnium (11-4) at Killarney 2m 1f mdn Yielding in May.
Magical Thomas 4-1 (10-9) Led, jumped right and bumped 1st, jumped right and hit 4th, ridden and hit last, soon headed, kept on same pace, 3rd of 6, 3/4l behind Wind Place And Sho (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
