always behind, beaten 5 out
tracked leaders, weakened after 5 out
keen in touch, effort before 3 out, soon lost place
mid-division, headway under pressure 4 out, soon impression
mid-division, headway halfway, weakening when hampered on bend after 5 out
held up towards rear, driven 6 out, beaten when brought down on bend after 4 out
prominent, led 5th, hard driven 2 out, kept on well
chased leaders, mistake 3rd, effort when hampered and unseated rider 2 out
led until 5th, not fluent 7th, under pressure when jumped left 2 out, stayed on gamely
mid-division, headway 5 out, chasing leaders when slipped and fell on bend approaching next
held up in rear, headway 4 out, chased leaders next, hampered 2 out, no impression
in touch, outpaced 9th, stayed on approaching last, never able to challenge
NonRunner
Awake At Midnight goes for the hat-trick after victories at Worcester and Chepstow and it’s no surprise that the champion prefers him to Show On The Road. Eamon An Cnoic came right back to form when fifth in the BetVictor Gold Cup at Cheltenham and would have to be considered on that form but we’re loathe to desert the ever-improving SIRUH DU LAC (NAP), who won a decent contest at Newbury last month that’s already produced winners. De Rasher Counter, Dusky Lark, Arthur's Gift and the four-year-old Risk And Roll all have the form to figure but Dr Des is looking a few pounds too high in the weights.
De Rasher Counter 11-4fav (11-11) Towards rear, hampered 1st, badly hampered next, mistake 9th, not fluent and behind next, pulled up before 3 out, at Hereford 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Dr Des (IRE) 9-2 (11-2) Tracked leader, pushed along 7th, struggling in 3rd 4 out, weakened after next, 3rd of 4, 25l behind Dynamite Dollars (11-2) at Market Rasen 2m 1f (3) gd in Oct.
Zamdy Man 5-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, ridden before 4 out, soon weakened, 5th of 6, 31 1/2l behind Guitar Pete (10-1) at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp lst (1) gs in Nov.
Eamon An Cnoic (IRE) 50-1 (10-0) Mid-division, headway 4 out, outpaced after next, left disputing well held 3rd last, never a threat, lost place near finish, 5th of 18, 11l behind Baron Alco (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (1) gd in Nov.
Arthur's Gift (IRE) 7-1 (11-5) Held up in touch, chased leaders 5 out, outpaced after next, ridden and kept on under pressure flat, no impression, 4th of 10, 8 3/4l behind Molly The Dolly (11-0) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Town Parks (IRE) 6-1 (11-6) Jumped left at times, soon mid-division, closed on outside 6th, not fluent 10th, lost place 12th, pulled up before 2 out, at Hereford 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Siruh Du Lac (FR) 7-1 (11-0) Chased leader, led 7th, mistake 2 out, 1/2 length ahead last, ridden and stayed on run-in, won at Newbury 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Nov beating Chef D'Equipe (11-9) by 1 3/4l, 13 ran.
Molineaux (IRE) 11-2 (11-6) Prominent, mistake 1st, ridden 2 out, 5th and beaten before last, weakened flat, 5th of 10, 14l behind Springtown Lake (11-13) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Dusky Lark 40-1 (11-7) Led until 1st, tracked leader, lost place3 out, weakening before next, 6th of 11, 14 3/4l behind Touch Kick (11-1) at Hereford 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Show On The Road 6-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders in 3rd, challenged 4 out, one pace in 3rd before 2 out, 3rd of 6, 8 1/2l behind The Russian Doyen (11-2) at Exeter 2m 3f (3) gd in Nov.
Awake At Midnight 9-2fav (11-4) Held up towards rear, headway 5 out, challenged 3 out, led next, driven out, won at Chepstow 2m hcp (3) gs in Nov beating Another Crick (10-7) by 1/2l, 16 ran.
Risk And Roll (FR) 9-2 (11-0) With leader, led 2nd until 4th, led again 9th until next, in front again after 3 out, ridden before joined last, headed and no extra towards finish, 2nd of 4, 3/4l behind Mister Malarky (11-5) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Creep Desbois (FR) 10-1 (11-5) Mistake and unseated rider 1st, at Hereford 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
