held up in last, headway 4 out, 3rd when mistake 2 out, went 2nd and hung right flat, not troubled winner
chased leader to 4 out, ridden after 3 out, weakened 2 out
held up towards rear, jumped left 4th, pushed along 7th, in touch 4 out, soon ridden, weakened approaching 2 out
held up in 4th, not fluent 3rd, 3 lengths down when blundered 4 out, ridden after 2 out, stayed on same pace
led, ridden and headed approaching last, weakened flat
chased leading pair, went 2nd 4 out, challenged next, led approaching last, ran on well flat
towards rear, mistakes 6th and 10th, lost touch next, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
Mizen Raven deserves to get his head in front having found one too good in each of his last five starts and Tim Vaughan's gelding has every chance of resuming winning ways over his optimum trip but PRINCE MASSINI looks to have been found a suitable opportunity to go one better than at Aintee last time and he gets the vote with the main threat rated as De Soto. Paul Webber's gelding was a good winner at Ludlow when last seen in October and he has to be respected despite a 7lb rise for that success. Michael Scudamore's Gleann An Sagart won well at Stratford last month but is another that has a 7lb rise to overcome, while the Alner's Free Gift is proving to be hard to win with. Jonjo O'Neill's Thunder Rock has disappointed of late over hurdles but may do better back over the larger obstacles, while Kilrogan seems a shade high in the weights at present. The vote though goes the way of Prince Massini, who was capable in Ireland before making a pleasing debut for Evan Williams at Aintree last week and, with further improvement to come, he looks worth siding with.
Thunder Rock (IRE) 5-1fav (11-3) Held up, headway after 10th, weakened under pressure from 2 out, 9th of 13, 27l behind Giovanna (11-5) at Stratford 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in May.
Kilrogan (IRE) 15-2 (10-9) Led, jumped right 2nd, hung left after 3 out, driven approaching last, headed flat, no extra, 2nd of 11, 6l behind Vacario (10-12) at Worcester 2m nov hdl (4) gd in May.
Mizen Raven (IRE) 7-4fav (11-12) In touch, chased leaders approaching 3 out, went 2nd 2 out, kept on, no chance with winner, 2nd of 11, 18l behind Daurica (11-0) at Southwell 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd.
De Soto 9-2 (11-12) Tracked leaders 3 out, ridden when mistake 4 out, led 2 out, ridden out, won at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in Oct beating Potts of Magic (11-0) by 1 3/4l, 11 ran.
Gleann An Sagart 9-1 (11-7) Made all, blundered 3 out, ridden approaching last, stayed on well, won at Stratford 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in May beating The Apprentice (11-5) by 4 1/2l, 13 ran.
Free Gift 12-1 (11-12) Prominent, chased leader after 5th until ridden approaching last, kept on one pace flat, no chance with winner, 3rd of 11, 11l behind Dead Or Alive (11-9) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd in May.
Prince Massini (IRE) 12-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, hit 4 out, headway on inside 3 out, chased winner after 2 out, jumped left last, no impression, 2nd of 8, 4 1/2l behind Nelson's Spice (11-11) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd.
