mid-division, pushed along over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
mid-division on outer, pushed along over 4f out, tailed off over 3f out
held up in rear, headway over 2f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, just held on
led, pushed along and headed over 4f out, quickly lost place
close up, ridden over 1f out, weakened entering final furlong
tracked leaders, led over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, rallied and just held towards finish
mid-division, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on towards finish
held up towards rear, effort over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
with leaders, ridden over 1f out, no extra towards finish
chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
always towards rear, weakened over 3f out
CITY PRESS seem to like these jumpers' bumpers as he was second in a similar contest over track and trip last month and, after finishing fourth over fences at Ludlow, won another of these at Lingfield eight days ago. Warren Greatrex's charge gets the nod again as he may have more natural speed than stayer chasers Midnight Appeal and Time For Spring while Themilanhorse's best form over hurdles is over much further, though he did win a bumper over 2m1f at Newton Abbot in 2011. None of the others make much appeal with Kings Lodge and Occasionally Yours out of form.
Bennys Well (IRE) 9-1 (11-6) Made most, hit 6th and 8th, mistake and headed 13th, weakened 3 out (usual 4 out), tailed off, 5th of 7, well behind Heezagrey (9-11) at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Aug.
Captain Moonman (IRE) 50-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, headway 6th, weakened before 4 out, tailed off, 5th of 7, 32l behind Shotgun Paddy (11-0) at Chepstow 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) sft in Nov.
City Press (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) In rear, headway on inner over 1f out, soon ridden, led inside final furlong, kept on well, won at Lingfield 2m n h flat (4) std beating Be All Man (10-11) by 1l, 13 ran.
County Zen (FR) 40-1 (11-3) Led, headed approaching 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off, last of 9, well behind Minella Special (10-8) at Fakenham 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft.
Kings Lodge 8-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear on outside, not fluent 9th, soon last, went right and slow 10th, pulled up before next, in a race won by Loch Ba (11-7) at Newbury 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft, 12 ran.
Midnight Appeal 16-1 (11-4) Held up behind in touch, headway on outside after 3 out, went 2nd next, ridden and effort between last 2, no extra in 3rd flat, 3rd of 7, 15l behind Coneygree (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m nov hdl G2 (1) hvy in Dec.
Moonlight Drive (IRE) 7-2fav (11-8) Held up in rear, mistake 12th, chased leaders under pressure before 4 out to next, never on terms, weakened and pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Tour Des Champs (11-10) at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Dec, 9 ran.
Occasionally Yours (IRE) 18-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 3 out, 7th of 9, 34l behind Who Owns Me (11-7) at Fakenham 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Dec.
Themilanhorse (IRE) 9-2 (11-2) Held up towards rear, pushed along after 4 out, no response and eased before 2 out, tailed off, 10th of 13, well behind Goulanes (10-2) at Cheltenham 3m 1f Listed hcp hdl (1) sft in Nov.
Time For Spring (IRE) 10-1 (10-13) Towards rear, pushed along before 12th, weakened before 5 out, 11th of 16, well behind Court By Surprise (10-10) at Doncaster 3m hcp chs 0-150 (2) gs in Dec.
Upton Mead (IRE) 40-1 (9-7) Chased leaders, went 2nd 4 out until approaching next where left 2nd again, driven to lead last, kept on well flat, won at Plumpton 2m 1f hcp chs 0-95 (5) hvy beating Pindar (10-11) by 2 1/2l, 7 ran.
Ballyvoneen (IRE) 16-1 (10-10) Chased leaders, outpaced from 13th, behind 16th, mistake next, soon pulled up, in a race won by Mission Complete (10-13) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Dec, 6 ran.
