in rear, slow 9th, no impression 4 out, fell 2 out
in rear, not fluent 1st, hampered 10th, headway 4 out, mistake, hampered and left 2nd briefly 2 out, mistake last, well held 4th flat
mid-division, mistake 10th, headway when hampered 4 out, 4th when hampered and unseated rider 2 out
in rear, jumped right 1st, mistake next, pulled up before 4th
chased leaders on outside, lost place approaching 6th, headway when not fluent 8th, soon lost place again, closed before 4 out, no impression 3 out, went 3rd last
chased leaders, lost place after 4th, headway 11th, led after 4 out, left clear 2 out, eased towards finish
2nd until 7th, 2nd after 11th, upsides when left in lead and hampered 4 out, soon headed, left 2nd after 2 out, no impression on winner
led, not fluent 9th, joined when fell 4 out
chased leaders, challenged after 4 out, every chance when fell 2 out
mid-division, closed when not fluent 3rd, went 2nd 7th until after 11th, lost place before 4 out
Previous winners top and tail this qualifier. Bottom weight Royal Plaza is preferred to Adimelo though both are partnered by 7lb claimers. Field Exhibition and Poker School also have their burden reduced by the same amount and the latter would be interesting if able to recapture his best form. The four-year-old Teaser has taken well to fences but Dandridge continues to frustrate. Cougar's Gold and Cap St Vincent are returning from a break and so is KEEP MOVING but the Hobbs’ stable is starting to get among the winners and the penny dropped with the seven-year-old last season. He starts off the new campaign on a fair mark considering there is still scope for further improvement.
Adimelo (FR) 13-2 (10-12) Tracked leaders early, dropped to mid-division at halfway, moderate 8th on outer 3 out, improved into close 3rd 2 out, soon ridden, led at last, stayed on well run-in, won at Sligo 2m 5f hcp Yielding in Aug beating Dawn Raider (11-8) by 7l, 9 ran.
Field Exhibition (IRE) 5-1 (12-0) Held up in last, took keen hold, headway 11th, went 2nd 4 out, led 2 out, soon headed, held towards finish, 2nd of 6, 1 1/4l behind As You Like (11-12) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Aug.
Poker School (IRE) 4-1 (10-2) Chased leaders, mistake and lost place 5th, struggling after 8th, well beaten from 3 out, last of 6, 18 1/2l behind Sizing Platinum (11-12) at Worcester 2m hcp (2) gd in Sep.
Somchine 6-1 (11-11) Mid-division, headway after 6th, went 2nd after 4 out until 3 out, weakened flat, 6th of 9, 21 1/4l behind Robbing The Prey (11-12) at Haydock 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in May.
Dandridge 7-1 (10-10) Chased leaders on outside, mistake 9th, led 13th, headed 2 out, weakened flat, 3rd of 7, 20 3/4l behind Vivas (11-3) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp (3) gf in Sep.
Cap St Vincent (FR) 4-1 (11-7) Held up in touch, headway 8th, ridden to chase leaders before 3 out, went 3rd next, kept on same pace, no impression with front pair, 3rd of 8, 6l behind Swift Crusador (11-10) at Sandown 2m hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Cougar's Gold (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Mid-division, not fluent and lost place 4th, not fluent 5th or 7th, went 4th 11th, weakened before 3 out, 4th of 7, 32l behind Tanarpino (11-6) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Mar.
Teaser 14-1 (10-12) Mid-division, not fluent 3rd, headway 8th, chased winner 2 out until last, stayed on same pace flat, 4th of 13, 3 1/4l behind Luckofthedraw (11-12) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Sep.
Keep Moving (FR) 8-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, pushed along after 11th, ridden after 5 out, left 2nd next, led 3 out, kept on under pressure from next, won at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Apr beating Triple Chief (10-1) by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
Royal Plaza 4-1 (11-4) 2nd or 3rd, led before 4 out, edged left flat, all out, won at Worcester 2m hcp (4) sft in Sep beating Malangen (11-0) by 3/4l, 6 ran.
