in touch, lost place 6th, brought down next
held up, reminder after 3rd, badly hampered 7th, not recover and pulled up before next
in touch until weakened approaching 8th, soon tailed off
held up, raced wide and headway 4th, fell 7th
led until after 7th, ridden after next, no chance from 2 out
tracked leader, led after 7th, quickened clear after 2 out, always in command after
took keen hold tracking leaders, pressed winner from 8th, outpaced after 2 out, kept on, always held from last
always towards rear
tracked leaders until weakened after 7th, soon tailed off
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Recent Ludlow winner Win A Rose has to be respected under the very capable Tom O'Brien but a 7lb rise for that Ludlow success leaves Peter Bowen's gelding with more to do and a chance is taken with Golden Feather, who gets the vote ahead of English Jim. The last mentioned, like Win A Rose, has a penalty to carry and may also struggle to carry it to victory, especially in a race where the jockeys can claim an additional 3lbs just for riding for their own yard, something which Liam Heard, like Tom O'Brien, is unable to do. James White is able to claim that extra 3lbs but his mount Norton Sapphire is not certain to stay this far, while Brendar still looks to be a shade high in the weights, especially on his first outing since April. Mistified has given little cause for optimism of late and a chance is taken with Golden Feather. The Venetia Williams-trained gelding is better than recent form suggests, has slipped to a fair mark and jockey Liam Treadwell is crucially able to claim an extra 3lbs because he rides for his own stable.
Easibrook Jane 2-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, weakened after 7th, behind when pulled up 4 out in race won by Brave Villa (12-2) at Chepstow 2m nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) sft in Nov, 6 ran.
Men Of Destiny (IRE) 66-1 (10-12) Prominent, hung left after 2f out, went 2nd flat, no chance with winner, 2nd of 12, 7l behind Cousin Nicky (11-7) at Newbury 2m 5f nov hcp hdl 0-120 (3) hvy in Nov.
Mistified (IRE) 7-2fav (11-6) Held up, headway 3 out, soon ridden and one pace, 4th of 12, 23l behind Sarin (11-2) at Hereford 2m 3f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs in Nov.
English Jim (IRE) 9-4fav (11-1) Mid-division, headway 6th, led after 3 out, idled flat, ridden out, won at Fontwell 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs in Nov beating Star Time (10-12) by 2l, 9 ran.
Win A Rose (IRE) 11-8fav (11-0) Prominent, lost place 6th, rallied 9th, led last, stayed on, won at Ludlow 3m hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Nov beating Little Rort (10-9) by 2 1/2l, 16 ran.
Pearly Star 14-1 (11-3) Never better than mid-division, 6th of 20, 13l behind Classic Rock (10-8) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Nov.
Norton Sapphire 15-8fav (9-9) In touch, led 3 out, headed approaching last, ran on to regain lead run-in, won at Exeter 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Nov beating Foxtrot Yankee (10-12) by 1l, 8 ran.
Friendly Request 11-2 (10-8) Led, ridden and headed 3 out, weakened rapidly, 8th of 10, 48l behind Son of Greek Myth (11-8) at Plumpton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf in Sept.
Pintail 9-1 (10-5) Mid-division, ridden 10th, soon struggling, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Alderbrook Girl (10-4) at Plumpton 3m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gs in Nov, 11 ran.
Brendar (IRE) 9-1 (11-9) In rear, not fluent 4th, ridden 5th, headway 4 out, chased leading pair 2 out, weakened approaching last, 4th of 14, 20l behind From Dawn To Dusk (10-6) at Chepstow 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Apr.
Golden Feather 15-2 (11-2) Mid-division, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out, 13th of 14, well behind San Antonio (10-11) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Nov.
