tracked leaders, driven and lost place after 5 out, behind from next, weakened and pulled up after 2 out
mistake 1st, held up in touch on outside, driven and lost place before 4 out, soon well behind, tailed off
with leaders until hit 5th, in touch, hit 11th and next, pushed along after 5 out, soon lost place, went modest 4th before before 2 out, no chance with leaders
held up in touch, headway on outside 17th, ridden and weakened after 3 out, pulled up approaching next
led or disputed lead throughout, went on after 5 out, clear between last 2, ridden out flat, stayed on well
held up in touch, blundered and unseated rider 2nd
tracked leaders on inside, driven and one pace in 3rd before 3 out, soon ridden, kept on, no impression with front pair
in touch, blundered and unseated rider 2nd
led or disputed lead virtually throughout, hit 6th, blundered 5 out, soon pushed along, ridden after 3 out, kept on until no extra and held between last 2
This will take some getting but the trip should pose no problems for KNOW THE SCORE, a winning point-to-pointer who battled on very gamely when making his chasing debut over 2m7f at Worcester. Diger Daudaie started favourite for that latter race despite making his chasing debut but was well beaten in the end though was obviously expected to do much better. Late Romantic, another winner between the flags, jumped well and stayed on strongly over 3m at Wetherby while Moving In Style stays extreme distances as he showed when scoring over an extended 3m2f at Sedgefield. The veteran Perfect Candidate hails from a yard that can do no wrong though he hasn't won since landing a Grade 3 handicap at Cheltenham two years ago.
Station Master (IRE) 13-2 (11-8) Led, pushed along and headed before 3 out, chased leader 2 out, ridden between last 2, weakened soon after, 5th of 7, 30 1/2l behind Anteros (10-4) at Hereford 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Late Romantic (IRE) 5-1 (12-0) Held up in touch, led before 3 out, headed 2 out, led before last, kept on well, won at Wetherby 3m hcp (4) sft in Nov beating Renwick (11-9) by 5l, 9 ran.
Diger Daudaie (FR) 4-1fav (11-4) Pressed leader, led 9th, headed next, lost place before 12th, well beaten 4 out, 6th of 9, 11 3/4l behind Know The Score (10-11) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp (3) gs in Oct.
Know The Score (IRE) 9-2 (10-11) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 11th, led 3 out, driven out, won at Worcester 2m 7f hcp (3) gs in Oct beating Supremely Lucky (11-6) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Perfect Candidate (IRE) 7-1 (11-13) Tracked leader, jumped right 4th, ridden to challenge 3 out, no extra approaching last, 4th of 13, 20 3/4l behind Orchardstown Cross (11-5) at Exeter 3m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Gold Opera (IRE) 5-2 (11-4) Chased leaders, reminders after 11th, lost touch next, left modest 3rd after 4 out, plugged on, 3rd of 6, 24l behind Jonniesofa (11-11) at Ayr 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Kings Monarch 5-2 (11-10) Chased leaders on inside, outpaced 11th, rallied on outside under pressure approaching 4 out, weakened and mistake 2 out, 4th of 6, 25l behind Ballymalin (11-7) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp (3) gs in Oct.
Zerachiel (IRE) 9-1 (11-12) Tracked leader until ridden approaching 16th, soon weakened, 8th of 9, dist behind Goodnight Charlie (10-10) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp (3) sft in Mar.
Moving In Style (IRE) 15-2 (11-2) Held up, mistake 11th, soon lost place, rallied after 3 out, stayed on into 5th, never on terms, 5th of 13, 22 3/4l behind Orchardstown Cross (11-5) at Exeter 3m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
