held up mid-division, headway before 3 out to tracked leaders, led before last, kept on strongly
held up in touch, headway before 3 out, led 2 out, headed before last, kept on and no chance with winner
with leader, led before 3 out, headed 2 out, kept on same pace
tracked leader and keen, soon dropped towards rear, ridden before 2 out, weakened before last
held up in rear, ridden and headway before last, kept on and no impression
held up mid-division, in rear before 4 out, soon outpaced
led and jumped badly right, ridden before 3 out, weakened before 2 out
KLOUD GATE was almost laughing at his rivals at Leicester last week so it’s no surprise that Gary Moore is turning him out again quickly under a penalty. He should follow up but may have to battle harder this time. Espoir De Loire is threatening to get his head in front and contest his first handicap while Keep The River beat a subsequent winner on his penultimate start at Ayr. Richard Strauss is in good form but has more to do than when a narrow winner at Musselbugh and Ballyfarsoon is usually worth opposing.
Kloud Gate (FR) 4-6fav (11-0) Held up, not fluent 3rd, headway 3 out, led next, soon went clear, easily, won at Leicester 2m 4f hcp (4) gf in Dec beating Lord Marmaduke (11-1) by 9l, 6 ran.
Keep The River 11-2 (11-7) Led and set steady pace, headed approaching 2nd, remained handy, outpaced when squeezed out before 2 out, rallied soon after, weakened run-in, 5th of 7, 10l behind Queen Of The Wind (10-11) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Ballyfarsoon (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Carried right 1st, always prominent, driven before 2 out, soon ridden, went 2nd between last 2, kept on, no chance with easy winner, 2nd of 13, 7l behind Je Suis Charlie (11-4) at Catterick 2m (4) gd in Nov.
Espoir De Loire (FR) 4-5fav (10-12) Made most until ridden before 2 out, no extra final 100 yards, 3rd of 5, 6 1/4l behind Enrichissant (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m 4f (4) gd in Nov.
St George's Oval (IRE) 20-1 (11-8) Held up in rear, headway before last (usual 3 out), ridden to chase leaders over 2f out, never able to challenge, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 14, 21 3/4l behind Border Victor (10-9) at Kelso 2m 7f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Richard Strauss (IRE) 7-2 (10-6) Chased leaders, led 4th, strongly challenged when hit 2 out, pressed throughout run in, hard driven, held on gamely, won at Musselburgh 2m hcp (4) gd in Nov beating Val Mome (11-12) by ns, 9 ran.
Patience Tony (IRE) 22-1 (11-0) Close up, pushed along and headway 3 out, ridden to chase winner last, kept on one pace, 2nd of 6, 6l behind Come On Charlie (11-11) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Dec.
