took keen hold, in touch, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened soon after, tailed off
held up, headway on inside to track leaders 6th, close up and travelling well when fell 4 out
chased leaders, weakened 7th, tailed off when pulled up approaching 2 out
raced wide, held up, headway into mid-division 6th, ridden approaching 2 out, 5th and no chance when mistake last
always behind, mistake and struggling 6th, tailed off
held up, mid-division, headway 7th, effort 3 out, chased winner approaching last, every chance flat, unable to quicken
held up in rear, headway and in touch after 4 out, weakened next
led early, tracked leader, regained lead 4 out, narrowly headed 2 out, still close up last, kept on under pressure flat
always in rear, lost touch 7th, tailed off when pulled up after 3 out
in touch, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out
in touch, pushed along 4 out, headway after next, led 2 out, driven and stayed on well flat
in touch, ridden 3 out and soon weakened
mid-division, ridden 6th, weakened after 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
behind, hampered 4 out, tailed off
soon led, headed 4 out, weakened after next
pulled hard in mid-division, weakened under pressure after 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
headway from 3rd, chased leaders from after 3 out, every chance 2 out, soon ridden, no extra flat
Racing Demon is able to run off a mark 12lbs lower than his chasing one so he gets the vote ahead of Finger On The Pulse, Afrad and Royals Darling. Henrietta Knight has been very selective with where she sends this horse, and she will be hoping to get the horses head in front again after a decent effort in the King George. On that form he is head and shoulders above these so he gets the vote. Finger On The Pulse looks a live danger as he chases his hat-trick. He will appreciate the ground more than some, but the fact that Tom Taaffe has a claimer on board could suggest that he feels the horse is on a lofty enough mark today. Afrad won well last time out when chasing, however he does appear to be handicapped right up to his best today and may struggle. Whispered Promises is consistent if unspectacular and can certainly gain some more place money today, whilst Nation State looked beaten when unseating his rider last time out so will need to forget that performance. Of more interest could be Dalarmam who returns to hurdling, although he does look like one of those handicapped to the hilt. In a tricky, open contest then, we return to Racing Demon to land the spoils.
Finger Onthe Pulse (IRE) 6-4fav (10-10) Settled 3rd, 2nd 5 out, led next, ridden and strongly pressed after last, stayed on well under pressure, won at Naas 2m 4f hcp hdl sft in Oct beating Pacolet (9-3) by 1l, 19 ran.
Racing Demon (IRE) 7-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, disputed lead well before 3 out until 3 out, soon outpaced, 3rd of 9, 9l behind Kauto Star (11-10) at Kempton 3m chs Grd 1 (1) gs in Dec.
Whispered Promises (USA) 8-1 (10-5) Led after 1st, ridden after 3 out, kept on, headed towards finish, 2nd of 10, 1/2l behind United (10-1) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) hvy in Dec.
Turtle Soup (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) Always behind, 14th of 16, 46l behind Material World (10-5) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl (2) sft in Dec.
Big Moment 12-1 (11-12) In touch, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened approaching last, 5th of 8, 18l behind Take A Mile (9-12) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gs in Dec.
Royals Darling (GER) 7-2 (11-3) Made all, hit 6th, ridden and under pressure and not fluent 2 out, all out, won at Ayr 2m 4yo nov hdl (2) gd in Apr beating Bold Fire (10-13) by 1/2l, 4 ran.
Nathos (GER) 10-1 (11-7) In touch, close 4th when fell 4 out in race won by Take A Mile (9-12) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gs in Dec, 8 ran.
Afrad (FR) 13-8 (11-4) Led, headed 4 out, left in lead and hampered 3 out, kept on, won at Chepstow 2m 3f beg chs (4) sft in Dec beating Ballybough Jack (10-13) by 24l, 10 ran.
Dalaram (IRE) 13-8fav (11-0) In touch, headway 10th, went 2nd after 4 out, every chance 2 out, held when not fluent last, weakened flat, 2nd of 8, 14l behind Red Man (10-10) at Sedgefield 2m 4f nov chs (4) gd in May.
Rayshan (IRE) 10-1 (10-5) In touch in chasing group, hit 3rd, outpaced after 3 out, stayed on approaching last, kept on run-in, 6th of 18, 7l behind Ungaro (10-8) at Sandown 2m 6f hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gd in Feb.
Verasi 33-1 (11-6) Mid-division, ridden and weakened 3 out, soon tailed off, last of 20, well behind Acambo (11-9) at Ascot 2m lst hcp hdl (1) gs in Dec.
Daryal (IRE) 8-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, ridden to challenge 3 out, weakened next, 6th of 16, 29l behind Border Castle (10-9) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Dec.
Take A Mile (IRE) 14-1 (9-12) Tracked leaders, hit 3rd, ridden to lead approaching last, kept on well, won at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gs in Dec beating Fenix (11-4) by 3l, 8 ran.
She's Our Native (IRE) 3-1jt-fav (11-1) Prominent, led 5th to 13th, ridden 2 out, still every chance when mistake last, soon beaten, 2nd of 9, 5l behind Touch Closer (11-12) at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Dec.
Brads House (IRE) 4-1 (11-2) Mid-division, mistake 3rd, headway 7th, stayed on same pace from 2 out, 3rd of 16, 5l behind Nictos de Bersy (10-12) at Chepstow 2m 4f nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Manners (IRE) 33-1 (10-0) Mid-division until 6th, soon behind, tailed off and pulled up at the last in race won by Material World (10-5) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl (2) sft in Dec, 16 ran.
Nation State 9-4jt-fav (10-4) Held up, blundered and unseated rider 4 out in race won by Take A Mile (9-12) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gs in Dec, 8 ran.
