in touch, ridden and headway between 4 out and 3 out, weakened 2 out
raced wide towards rear, pushed along 7th, weakened 4 out
made most, ridden and hit 2 out, stayed on gamely flat
towards rear, headway after 4 out, ridden 2 out, weakened flat
tracked leaders, mistake 4 out, ridden to chase winner approaching last, kept on one pace
with winner from 2nd, ridden 3 out, kept on same pace
towards rear, ridden 4 out, headway approaching 2 out, stayed on to go 3rd flat
close up, ridden and lost place 4 out
raced wide close up, ridden 4 out, soon lost place
in rear, ridden and headway before 3 out, no impression from next
tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, kept on same pace
OPTIMISTIC BIAS dead heated for first place with Sykes at Aintree last month and the latter has since gone on to win again. That looks stronger form than Island Heights' recent victory at Ayr and Jonjo O'Neill's charge gets the nod ahead of stablemate and recent Plumpton runner up Listen And Learn. Oscar Blue bids for a hat trick as he makes his handicap debut and has a couple of lengths to spare over Major Ivan on latest running at Kelso while Shades Of Midnight could also go well dropping back down a grade.
Hidden Justice (IRE) 14-1 (9-12) Held up towards rear, ridden 3f out, never on terms, 8th of 13, 16 1/4l behind Star Rider (8-11) at Newmarket 2m hcp (3) sft in Oct.
Listen And Learn (IRE) 10-3fav (11-10) Tracked leaders, not fluent 2nd or 7th, led after 3 out, headed last, outpaced flat, 2nd of 6, 2 1/4l behind The Boss's Dream (11-6) at Plumpton 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Island Heights (IRE) 11-4fav (11-12) Tracked leaders in 3rd, led 5th, kept on well, driven out, won at Ayr 2m 5f hcp (4) gs in Oct beating Always Tipsy (11-11) by 1l, 8 ran.
Optimistic Bias (IRE) 15-8fav (11-6) Mid-division on outer, tracked leaders 4 out, challenged next, upsides 2 out, ridden and every chance flat, kept on, dead heated post, won at Aintree 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in Oct beating Sykes (11-5), 8 ran.
Major Ivan (IRE) 5-4fav (11-5) Tracked leaders, chased winner after 3 out, not fluent next, one pace in 3rd before last, ridden and kept on flat, 3rd of 6, 2l behind Oscar Blue (11-5) at Kelso 2m 7f (4) gd in Oct.
Oscar Blue (IRE) 10-11fav (11-5) Led, ridden when hard pressed after 2 out, headed narrowly last, every chance when rider dropped whip flat, rallied to regain lead near finish, won at Kelso 2m 7f (4) gd in Oct beating Sunny West (10-12) by nk, 6 ran.
Shades Of Midnight 11-1 (10-9) Held up mid-division, ridden before 2 out, soon weakened, 10th of 15, 19 1/2l behind One For Harry (10-13) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Cowslip 17-2 (11-10) Tracked leader, challenged after 4 out, led narrowly next, headed approaching 2 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 7th of 8, dist behind Optimistic Bias (11-6) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Fighter Jet 14-1 (10-6) Chased leaders, closed 4 out, outpaced and no impression from 2 out, 6th of 11, 28 3/4l behind Dark Spirit (11-6) at Cheltenham 3m hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Quel Elite (FR) 4-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, dropped to rear 6th, close up 8th, challenged after 3 out, ridden approaching next, one pace before last, kept on flat, no impression, 2nd of 6, 3l behind Manballandall (11-12) at Hexham 3m hcp (4) hvy in May.
Charlie Cook (IRE) 50-1 (11-5) Mid-division, weakened 4 out, mistake next, tailed off, 14th of 15, dist behind Masterplan (11-2) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
