mid-division, headway on inner before 11th to chase leaders, weakened before 2 out
held up in touch, in 5th when blundered and unseated rider 13th
led, joined 7th, headed before 6 out, quickly weakened, pulled up next
held up mid-division, headway before 12th, every chance 4 out, challenged 3 out, kept on and no extra towards finish
in rear, headway before 5 out, one pace and no impression
always behind
towards rear, headway 6 out, ridden before 3 out, weakened after 2 out
chased leaders, blundered 10th, soon lost place, one pace from 2 out
chased leader and wide, joined leader 7th, every chance 3 out, ridden before 2 out, kept on towards finish
towards rear, pushed along before 12th, weakened before 5 out
held up towards rear, headway 6 out, challenge 3 out, led narrowly 2 out, soon hard pressed, kept on gamely, all out
chased leader, weakened before 12th, tailed off
chased leaders, led before 6 out, headed narrowly 2 out, every chance last, no extra towards finish
towards rear, ridden before 11th, headway before 2 out, in 5th at last, stayed on strongly on outer, just held close home
towards rear, pushed along before 12th, headway before 5 out, weakened 2 out
mid-division, pushed along before 9th, reminders before 11th, never dangerous
A cracking finale and course winner Ikorodu Road could be interesting having found the company too hot in the Hennessy two weeks ago. Door Boy and Quentin Collonges are capable of running well fresh while Mistree Dancer has been in fine form lately and King Fontaine is very well treated on his best form. Time For Spring won at Sandown last month and Court By Surprise showed his turn wasn't far away at Fakenham, though he might prefer a softer surface. Night In Milan is back over fences for the first time since scoring at Kelso in May but he might be too close in the weights to stable companion CORKAGE. The latter is a bit of an enigma and was tailed off on his reappearance at Sedgefield but he has a much higher rating over hurdles and, something of a Doncaster specialist, could go very close in this if his jumping stands up to the test.
Mr Moonshine (IRE) 16-1 (11-9) Held up mid-division, chased leaders 2nd, with leader 8th, led before next, headed 2 out, weakened before last, 6th of 16, 25l behind Trustan Times (11-12) at Haydock 3m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft in Nov.
Helpston 9-2 (11-12) In touch, hampered and lost place 2nd, reminder 7th, behind 13th, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Romanesco (10-5) at Fakenham 3m hcp chs 0-140 (3) gs in Oct, 14 ran.
Mr Cracker (IRE) 33-1 (11-10) Always towards rear, no impression before straight, last of 5, 42l behind Flemenstar (11-9) at Navan 2m chs Grd 2 (1) in Nov.
Ikorodu Road 50-1 (10-1) Always behind, 10th of 19, well behind Bobs Worth (11-6) at Newbury 3m 2f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gs.
Nataani (IRE) 20-1 (10-0) Raced wide, chased leaders, went right 4th, led 11th, headed before bypasing omitted 2 out, soon lost 2nd, no extra from last, 5th of 14, 17l behind Roberto Goldback (10-10) at Ascot 3m Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gs in Nov.
Door Boy (IRE) 5-2 (11-12) Tracked leaders, not fluent 11th, weakened and pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Sotovik (9-11) at Perth 2m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft in Apr, 6 ran.
De Boitron (FR) 20-1 (10-10) Tracked leaders, effort on outside after last (usual 3 out), soon chased winner, ridden and one pace when lost 2nd over 1f out, 3rd of 6, 16l behind Idarah (10-11) at Kelso 2m 1f hcp chs (2) sft in Nov.
Quentin Collonges (FR) 8-1 (10-2) In touch, mistake 5th, not fluent 6th, hit 20th and 21st, soon weakened, pulled up before 5 out, in a race won by Merigo (10-2) at Ayr 4m hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Apr, 24 ran.
Corkage (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Behind, ridden and lost touch after 7th, tailed off, last of 9, well behind Buck Mulligan (11-6) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-140 (3) gs in Nov.
Time For Spring (IRE) 11-4fav (11-9) Patiently ridden and held up towards rear, good headway to chase leadrs 12th, went 2nd 3 out, challenged next, soon led, driven out from last, won at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Nov beating Imperial Circus (11-0) by 1l, 12 ran.
Court By Surprise (IRE) 8-1 (10-11) Led, hit 3 out, headed next, one pace before last, 3rd of 14, 9l behind Romanesco (10-5) at Fakenham 3m hcp chs 0-140 (3) gs in Oct.
Eleazar (GER) 40-1 (12-0) Always towards rear, tailed off, 8th of 14, 49l behind Salsify (12-0) at Stratford 3m 4f hts chs (2) gd in Jun.
Misstree Dancer 5-2 (11-10) Tracked leader, led approaching 4 out, ridden clear after 2 out, eased run in, comfortable, won at Fakenham 3m Mares Handicap Chase (0-120) (4yo+) (4) gs in Nov beating Midnight Macarena (10-8) by 20l, 5 ran.
Night In Milan (IRE) 5-1 (11-5) Held up in touch on outside, chased winner after 4 out, driven and one pace when lost 2nd between last 2, no extra, 3rd of 8, 8l behind South Leinster (10-8) at Kelso 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Nov.
King Fontaine (IRE) 20-1 (10-6) In rear, hit 11th, tailed off and pulled up before 14th, in a race won by Monbeg Dude (10-0) at Cheltenham 3m 3f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) sft in Nov, 16 ran.
Pentiffic (NZ) 10-1 (10-13) In touch on inside, slow and ridden 11th, soon lost place, well behind 4 out, blundered 2 out, 7th of 14, 22l behind Swing Bill (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m am hcp chs 0-140 (3) gs in Nov.
