always behind, struggling in last pair 5th, tailed off
mid-division, pushed along towards rear and struggling before 5th, tailed off
well placed on outside, 2nd travelling well after 3 out, led last, edged right and quickened clear run-in, ridden out
towards rear, last and struggling 5th, never dangerous after
held up towards rear, mid-division 5th, headway tracking leaders before 2 out, plugged on run-in
mid-division, in touch 5th, weakened after 3 out
held up in mid-division, pushed along in 6th after 3 out, no progress
chased leaders, 2nd approaching 3rd until 5th, chased leaders, hung right and weakened after 3 out
led until approaching 4th, led again approaching 5th until pushed along approaching 3 out, chased leaders, weakened before next
always towards rear, pushed along and struggling after 3 out, never involved
held up in mid-division, headway chasing leaders after 3 out, plugged on
took keen hold, held up in rear, headway on inside into mid-division after 4th, weakened rapidly on long run after 3 out
chased leaders, weakened quickly soon after 3 out, tailed off
chased leaders on outside, weakened after 2 out
chased leaders, went 2nd approaching 3rd, led 3 out, clear before next, ridden and headed last, chased winner, well held run-in, lost 2nd close home
held up in mid-division on outside, pushed along and headway on outside before 2 out, 3rd after 2 out, plugged on into 2nd close home, no chance with winner
held up towards rear, pushed along on outside after 3 out, never involved
chased leader until approaching 3rd, chased leaders, led approaching 4th until approaching next, chased leaders, weakened quickly after 3 out, tailed off
held up towards rear, headway approaching 2 out, driven and went modest 4th approaching the last
A high-class renewal of this Grade 3 handicap with its wide-open nature expected to be reflected in the betting. Nicky Henderson runs three with Brain Power and Consul De Thaix finishing 1-2 in a Listed handicap at Sandown at the start of the month and preferred to Hargam. Tony Martin also has a trio of runners with Golden Spear particularly interesting at the foot of the weights. Stablemates Pyromaniac and Quick Jack finished practically upsides in the Galway Hurdle in July and Ireland is also represented by Noel Meade’s Fairyhouse winner Waxies Dargle. Sternrubin dead-heated with the returning Jolly's Cracked It, who has been well backed again, in this last year and won here in October. But he was then behind runner-up Modus in the Greatwood at Cheltenham. WHO DARES WINS was hugely impressive when reverting to 2m at Newbury and the likely strong pace here will play to his strengths. He’s been raised 9lb but could be up to the task. Meet The Legend will be ready after a lay-off and also warrants a mention.
Hargam (FR) 25-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders on inside, not fluent and lost place 3rd, ridden and struggling after, well behind from 4 out, 12th of 16, dist behind North Hill Harvey (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) sft in Nov.
Who Dares Wins (IRE) 4-1 (11-10) Held up in last trio, headway approaching 3 out, chased clear leader before next, closed to lead last, driiven clear, won at Newbury 2m hcp lst (1) gs in Nov beating Theligny (10-11) by 9l, 8 ran.
Brain Power (IRE) 9-2 (11-10) Took keen hold, waited with in touch, smooth headway on outside into 2nd 2 out, led on bit approaching last, clear when idled in front, always just doing enough, won at Sandown 2m hcp lst (1) gs in Dec beating Consul De Thaix (11-0) by 3/4l, 10 ran.
Waxies Dargle 16-1 (10-10) Mid-division, 8th halfway, pushed along and some progress in 5th 2 out, no impression on leader in 3rd before last, left 2nd after last, led run-in and kept on well, won at Fairyhouse 2m hcp Good - Yielding in Dec beating Morga (10-4) by 3/4l, 17 ran.
Quick Jack (IRE) (9-4) 6th of 15, 3 1/4l behind Vazirabad (9-4) at Saint-Cloud 1m 7f Grp 1 gd in Oct.
Jolly's Cracked It (FR) 7-1jfav (11-3) Held up in mid-division, smooth headway tracking leaders before 2 out, 2nd 2 out, closed under pressre last, ridden into narrow lead run-in, joined post, won at Ascot 2m hcp (1) gs in Dec beating Sternrubin (10-10), 21 ran.
Modus 5-1 (10-13) Mid-division, headway 3 out, hung right and every chance flat, stayed on, held close home, 2nd of 16, 1/2l behind North Hill Harvey (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) sft in Nov.
Rayvin Black 7-1 (11-5) Led, headed before 2 out, soon dropped to 3rd, ridden and weakened before left modest 2nd and slightly hampered at the last, 2nd of 5, 9l behind Sceau Royal (11-10) at Wincanton 1m 7f hcp (1) gd in Nov.
Sternrubin (GER) 8-1 (11-4) Led, headed after 2nd, led before next, driven and headed after 2 out, no extra approaching last, 5th of 16, 10 1/4l behind North Hill Harvey (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) sft in Nov.
Diego Du Charmil (FR) 3-1fav (11-9) Tracked leaders, under pressure approaching 2 out, weakened before last, 9th of 12, 15 1/4l behind Sternrubin (11-10) at Ascot 2m hcp lst (1) gd in Oct.
Pyromaniac (IRE) 6-1jfav (9-6) Mid-division, progress straight, chased leaders 1f out, kept on same pace, 7th of 20, 8l behind Laws Of Spin (8-6) at Curragh 2m hcp gd in Oct.
Meet The Legend 9-2 (11-8) Took keen hold, held up in rear, mistake 2nd, headway when not fluent 4 out, every chance 2 out, ridden approaching last, hung left and one pace flat, 3rd of 6, 4 1/2l behind Le Prezien (11-5) at Kelso 2m 2f (1) sft in Mar.
Willow's Saviour 10-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders on inside, pushed along 3 out, close up in 3rd and staying on when fell next, at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp lst (1) gs in Mar.
Wolf Of Windlesham (IRE) 7-2 (8-13) Held up mid-division, ridden and headway over 1f out, no extra towards finish, 2nd of 12, 1 1/4l behind Beltor (9-4) at Kempton 2m hcp (4) pol in Dec.
Fergall (IRE) 14-1 (11-3) Held up, in touch, headway 3 out, every chance next, kept on well under pressure, 4th of 12, 3/4l behind Sternrubin (11-10) at Ascot 2m hcp lst (1) gd in Oct.
Consul De Thaix (FR) 13-2 (11-0) Blundered 1st, held up towards rear, headway on outside approaching 2 out, driven disputing 4th between last 2, 2nd soon after last, stayed on under pressure run-in, not reach winner, 2nd of 10, 3/4l behind Brain Power (11-10) at Sandown 2m hcp lst (1) gs in Dec.
Chesterfield (IRE) 3-1 (11-6) Held up towards rear, smooth headway on outside approaching 4 out, 2nd before 2 out, ridden into narrow lead and looked likely winner when fell last, at Kempton 2m hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Unison (IRE) 4-1 (11-1) Made all, gifted clear lead, reduced advantage after 4th, hit 2 out, clear last, comfortably, won at Doncaster 2m 1f hcp (3) gd in Nov beating Cornborough (11-5) by 1 1/4l, 8 ran.
Golden Spear 7-1 (8-8) Chased leaders, improved to challenge from over 1f out, soon struck by rival rider's whip, stayed on well to lead closing stages, won at Leopardstown 1m 7f hcp Yielding in Oct beating Nakeeta (9-6) by 1/2l, 23 ran.
