raced out wide in mid-division, steady headway tracking leaders approaching 4th, close 2nd 4 out, led next, narrowly headed 2 out, driven and stayed on gamely to lead again final 100 yards
mid-division, outpaced 4 out, headway next, plugged on in modest 3rd run-in
raced keenly, chased leaders, 3rd and every chance when hit 2 out, weakening when mistake last
raced keenly, chased leaders, hung left and weakened after 3 out
chased leaders, weakened approaching 4 out
mid-division, good headway chasing leaders before 3 out, hung left soon after, led narrowly 2 out, hung left run-in, headed and no extra final 100 yards
led until 4 out, chased leaders, weakened before next
awkward 1st, chased leaders on inside, led before 3rd until 3 out, chased winner until before 2 out, weakening when mistake 2 out
chased leaders, pushed along after 4 out, soon weakened
always towards rear, never involved
jumped moderately in rear, tailed off when went badly left 4 out, hung left and plugged on from 2 out
Though he didn’t manage to win in France, ROAD SENAM ran some cracking races in defeat in strong company, especially over fences. His long-term future lies over the larger obstacles but he gets 6lb here from Lingfield maiden winner Bear Ghylls and that may just edge things his way. Freddie Darling has shown some promise and newcomer Gowel Road is definitely worth a market check as he runs in the Ballyandy colours and is a half-brother to Grade 1-winning hurdler Captain Cutter.
Bear Ghylls (IRE) 2-1fav (11-2) Close up, restrained into midfield 3rd, pulled into prominent position 6th, led 4 out, ridden after 2 out, veered right and no fluent last, stayed on strongly run in, won at Lingfield 2m 3f mdn (4) sft in Oct beating Make Me A Believer (11-2) by 4 1/2l, 16 ran.
Blueberg (IRE) 40-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, some headway over 5f out, no impression final 4f, 8th of 10, 22 1/4l behind Chavez (11-0) at Chepstow 2m (5) hvy in Nov.
Freddie Darling (IRE) 22-1 (10-12) In touch, ridden and headway 3 out, no impression from next, 4th of 9, 21l behind Shakem Up'arry (10-12) at Ffos Las 2m (4) sft in Nov.
Gats And Co 6-4fav (10-10) Stdy hdwy 12; wknd 3 out, 5th of 6, 25 1/2l behind Holy Water (12-0) at Pyle 3m mdn gd in Apr.
Go Pharisee Flyer (FR) 20-1 (11-0) In touch behind leaders, outpaced over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 4th of 9, 12 1/4l behind Martello Sky (11-0) at Fakenham 2m (5) gd in Oct.
Gowel Road (IRE) Flemensfirth gelding out of Hollygrove Samba.
Magnificent Ben (IRE) 125-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, weakened next, 4th of 10, 27 1/2l behind Nada To Prada (10-5) at Ffos Las 2m mdn (4) hvy in Nov.
Road Senam (FR) (10-3) 2nd of 7, 3 1/2l behind Gardons Le Sourire (10-3) at Auteuil 2m 6f sft in May.
Sing The Anthem 80-1 (11-0) Held up, slow jump 3rd, ridden and progress over 3 out, soon outpaced, kept on without threatening leaders after last, 7th of 11, dist behind What About Time (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f mdn (4) gs in Nov.
The Boat (IRE) 40-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, not fluent 1st, shaken up before 3 out, never involved, 7th of 12, 26 1/4l behind The Grey Falco (10-12) at Chepstow 2m (4) hvy in Nov.
Triple Nickle (IRE) 33-1 (10-5) Towards rear, headway 4 out, mistake and unseated rider next, at Ffos Las 2m mdn (4) hvy in Nov.
Imhotep 250-1 (11-0) In rear, outpaced and weakened quickly after 4 out, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out, at Ludlow 2m mdn (4) gs in Nov.
