led, headed 3 out, looked well held in 2nd before last, rallied run-in, stayed on towards finish, just held
in rear, headway before 4 out, led 3 out, cler before last, just held on
held up in touch, joined leader 11th, ridden before 3 out, no impression from next
tracked leader, kept on before last, one pace
tracked leaders, ran in snatches and pushed along, reminders before 13th, lost place 5 out
Night In Milan tries to win this for the second year running off a 14lb higher mark. He only has four rivals and this will be his first race over fences since he scored over 3m2f here in March but he might be worth opposing on the soft going. Grandads Horse is only 4lb higher than when scoring at Ascot last month and has every chance but the ground should suit HERDSMAN. Brian Ellison's nine-year-old can confirm recent Bangor running with veteran Ikorodu Road and Peter Carberry's claim is a plus. Forgotten Gold was affair fourth at Haydock last time and is fairly handicapped but usually makes at least one serious error at his fences.
Night In Milan (IRE) 9-1 (11-11) Close up in 3rd, lost place from 3 out, 10th of 14, well behind Closing Ceremony (11-5) at Haydock 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Nov.
Grandads Horse 10-1 (11-12) Held up in rear of mid-division, headway into 4th approaching 16th, challenging in 3rd 2 out, soon 2nd, led approaching last, stayed on well flat, ridden out, won at Ascot 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Nov beating Tullamore Dew (10-11) by 2 1/4l, 11 ran.
Forgotten Gold (IRE) 25-1 (11-5) Close up, pushed along before 4 out, soon weakened, 4th of 11, 11l behind According To Trev (10-11) at Haydock 3m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft in Nov.
Ikorodu Road 9-1 (11-1) Close up, ridden 5 out, weakened 2 out, 6th of 9, 25l behind Howard's Legacy (10-4) at Bangor 3m hcp chs 0-150 (2) sft in Nov.
Herdsman (IRE) 9-2 (10-11) Held up, dropped to rear 11th, soon ridden along, some headway 2 out, 5th of 9, 24l behind Howard's Legacy (10-4) at Bangor 3m hcp chs 0-150 (2) sft in Nov.
