pulled hard, tracked leaders, challenged 5th, led 2 out, came well clear on long run to last, very easily
took keen hold, tracked leaders, mistake and lost place 3rd, close 5th when fell next
raced wide, narrow lead until before 4th, chased leader, led again 3 out until next, weakened on long run to last, tailed off and eased
pressed leader, narrow lead before 4th until 3 out, went 2nd again on long run to last, no chance with easy winner
held up in last pair, progress on outside after 3rd, driven in 4th after 2 out, went 3rd on long run to last, stayed on, never any chance with very easy winner
held up in last pair, rear when badly hampered 4th, ridden and struggling after 2 out, soon eased, tailed off
Runner-up to Saturday's Cheltenham winner Bobs Worth on his hurdling debut at Kempton in November, SIRE DE GRUGY made no mistake in less exalted company at Fakenham at the start of January. Gary Moore's progressive novice did finish behind Alwaysonthemove in a jumpers' bumper before Christmas but it's not always wise to take the form of those races too literally and the five-year-old can reverse that running over timber, despite his penalty. Caddie Master has been well beaten on both starts while Keepthebooton may need this and will probably do better when tackling fences.
Sire De Grugy (FR) 4-9fav (11-5) Led chasing group, overall leader approaching 6th, clear before 2 out, very easily, won at Fakenham 2m mdn hdl (5) gs in Jan beating Aviador (11-5) by 19l, 10 ran.
Alwaysonthemove 50-1 (11-0) Prominent early, chased leaders, lost place over 6f out, stayed on over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong to take 2nd towards finish, no impression on winner, 2nd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Chain Of Command (11-0) at Kempton 2m Nat Hunt Flat (4yo+) (AWT) (4) std in Dec.
Caddie Master (IRE) 14-1 (11-1) Held up well in rear, struggling halfway, soon under pressure, kept on approaching last, nearest finish, 4th of 8, 34l behind Pret A Thou (11-2) at Towcester 2m nh nov hdl (3) sft in Jan.
Fireitfromye (IRE) 10-1 (11-5) Settled in mid-division, under pressure 4 out, soon no impression, 6th of 14, 38l behind Gibb River (11-12) at Plumpton 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Jan.
Keepthebooton (IRE) 9-1 (11-2) In touch, ridden to chase leaders 3f out, held from 2f out, 4th of 14, 8l behind Hudibras (10-9) at Lingfield 2m NH flat (6) gd in Mar '09.
Premier Article (IRE) 22-1 (11-4) Mid-division, headway over 8f out, ridden and weakened 7f out, tailed off, 10th of 11, well behind Benartic (11-7) at Southwell 2m mdn nat hunt flt (4-6yo) (4) std in Jan '10.
