held up, shaken up after 8th, headway 3 out, driven 2 out, weakened last
made all, not fluent 4 out, hard pressed before 2 out, stayed on well, in command flat, game effort
tracked leaders on outside, lost place after 4th, effort 8th, lost place when mistake 3 out, soon weakened
held up, headway 9th, strong challenge when hit 2 out, soon ridden, edged right and held flat, kept on
tracked leaders, mistake 8th, not fluent 3 out, soon short off room, not quicken 2 out, untidy last, went 3rd and kept on flat
took keen hold, tracked leaders, went 2nd 7th, blundered badly 3 out, still every chance when not fluent last, 4th and weakening towards finish
tracked winner until 7th, hit next, mistake 9th, lost place before next, soon behind, pulled up before 3 out
NonRunner
The bold-jumping Gino Trail never saw another rival at Wetherby last time and was allowed to coast home so a 5lb rise doesn’t look excessive and he makes more appeal than veteran stablemate Grey Gold. BUN DORAN is making his seasonal reappearance but has more scope and is receiving 4lb. He ran well at The Festival here in March and was then third at Aintree so should pick up a decent handicap this winter. Theo still has a bit to prove at this level and Sire De Grugy is looking a light of former days while Pearls Legend faces a stiff task at the weights but Knockgraffon is entitled to improve on his comeback run at Newton Abbot.
Sire De Grugy (FR) 6-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, ridden and unable to quicken before 2 out, weakened 2 out, last of 8, 22 3/4l behind Sir Valentino (11-6) at Ascot 2m 1f hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Gino Trail (IRE) 11-10fav (11-12) Mostly jumped well, led, clear from 2nd, mistake 2 out, allowed to run down the last, kept on strongly, unchallenged, won at Wetherby 1m 7f hcp (3) sft in Nov beating Pain Au Chocolat (11-10) by 7l, 4 ran.
Knockgraffon (IRE) 3-1 (11-0) Held up in last pair, closed 10th, a little awkward on landing 4 out, weakened before 2 out, 4th of 5, 31 1/4l behind Black Corton (10-8) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f (2) gd in Oct.
Bun Doran (IRE) 6-1fav (11-1) Tracked leaders, 2nd after 8th, led 3 out, jumped left 2 out, headed before last, stayed on same pace flat, 3rd of 14, 4 3/4l behind Double W's (11-1) at Aintree 2m hcp (1) gd in Apr.
Bentelimar (IRE) 25-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, driven and lost place after 3 out, weakened from next, 10th of 17, 27 1/4l behind Splash of Ginge (10-6) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (1) sft in Nov.
Theo (IRE) 3-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders in 3rd place when blundered badly and unseated rider 1st, at Perth 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Sep.
Pearls Legend 8-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, pecked 1st, hampered 3rd, ridden 9th, left 2nd 4 out, hit 3 out, no impression on winner, 2nd of 8, 5l behind Robinshill (12-2) at Ludlow 2m hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Grey Gold (IRE) 4-5fav (11-0) Chased leaders, took closer order 9th, chased leader next, led approaching last, weakening and no extra close home, held on, won at Ffos Las 2m 3f (4) sft in Oct beating Red Riverman (11-4) by 3/4l, 4 ran.
