chased leaders, went 2nd approaching 3 out, every chance next, no extra flat
led to 2nd, led again 4th, headed 5th, weakened approaching 3 out
chased leaders, weakened after 2 out
pulled hard, held up mid-division, headway 6th, ridden to chase winner when hung left approaching last, kept on flat
with leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
with leaders, led 5th, ridden approaching 2 out, hard ridden and kept on under pressure flat
led to 2nd, headed 4th, weakened 7th, tailed off
towards rear, headway 7th, soon weakened
prominent 6th, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out
mid-division, ridden 4 out, soon weakened
behind from 5th, tailed off from next, pulled up before 4 out
always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
held up, headway to track leaders 6th, ridden approaching 2 out, every chance approaching last, hard ridden and edged left flat, kept on towards finish
Cloudless Dawn looks the one here, with Money Trix and Funny Times as possibly proving best of the rest. Cloudless Dawn ran well when seeing off all bar Heltornic at Haydock last time and, back at this slightly shorter trip, looks to be the one they all have to beat today. Buffy showed improvement last time but, on the balance of form, has something to find with the selection, while Jontys'Lass was well behind the selection at Doncaster in November. Money Trix showed improvement last time against some fair types and, up in trip today, cannot be ruled out of a good run. Finally, Funny Times, who beat Heltornic by seven lengths in a bumper last season, would hold a good chance if managing to get it together over hurdles and Treasured Memories and Political Pendant have at least suggested ability; however, for us, the safer option today is Cloudless Dawn, who gets the vote.
Cloudless Dawn 7-2 (11-6) Tracked leaders, left 2nd 7th, ridden 2 out, blundered last, beaten when hung left flat, 2nd of 8, 7l behind Heltornic (11-6) at Haydock 2m 6f mrs nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Another Jameson (IRE) 11-2 (10-12) Led, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, soon no extra, 5th of 15, 21l behind Ile Maurice (10-5) at Newcastle 2m 4f mrs nov hdl (E) hvy in Dec.
Buffy 100-1 (11-4) Held up in touch, headway and close up 4 out, not fluent next, chance approaching last, no extra run-in, 3rd of 17, 5l behind Woodford Consult (10-4) at Newcastle 2m mrs mdn hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Funny Times 9-1 (10-7) Held up and not fluent, headway approaching 3 out, outpaced next, 6 lengths down in 3rd when fell at the last in race won by Rasharrow (11-5) at Ayr 2m nov hdl (D) sft in Nov, 17 ran.
Hillary Harbour (IRE) 16-1 (11-7) Never better than mid-division, 14th of 19, well behind Patsy Hall (11-12) at Gowran Park 3m mdn hdl gs in Dec.
Losing Grip (IRE) 25-1 (11-2) Led, headed briefly 2nd, ridden and headed 3 out, soon weakened, 4th of 7, well behind Sabreflight (11-8) at Sedgefield 2m 5f mrs nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Monifieth 14-1 (11-2) In touch, ridden over 3f out, soon one pace, 4th of 10, 15l behind Scarvagh Diamond (10-9) at Newcastle 2m mrs nhf (6) sft in Jan.
Treasured Memories 8-1 (11-4) Mid-division, outpaced halfway, 7th of 17, 17l behind Woodford Consult (10-4) at Newcastle 2m mrs mdn hdl (4) sft in Jan.
