held up mid-division, ridden over 1f out, soon faded
held up towards rear, effort over 1f out, never dangerous
led, headed over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, led inside final furlong, kept on well
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, kept on well inside final furlong
held up mid-division, lost place over 2f out
tracked leaders in 3rd, ridden over 1f out, one pace
tracked leader, went 2nd over 3f out, led over 1f out, kept on and headed inside final furlong
held up towards rear, ridden over 1f out, soon weakened
held up mid-division, ridden over 1f out, one pace
held up mid-division, headway over 1f out, ridden entering final furlong, one pace
tracked leaders in 4th, led over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
held up towards rear, ridden over 1f out, never dangerous
A very interesting finale with Gary Moore's grey Woolfall Treasure well worth a mention having won a couple of staying handicaps here and at Wolverhampton on the Flat recently. He had Vimiero well behind on one occasion. Ranjaan should strip fitter for his run in the Ladbroke at Ascot while Micheal Flips and Starluck are decent when in the mood. Drill Sergeant and Dr Livingstone both had useful form on the Flat in their younger days, though the former is a bit of a low unto himself, but ARDLUI looks to be the class act. Alan King's five-year-old landed a 2m handicap at Newmarket at the end of the Flat season and was then third to the progressive At Fisher's Cross in a competitive handicap hurdle at Newbury. He didn't stay 2m6f at Wincanton on Boxing Day but this looks his chance to recapture the winning thread.
Ardlui (IRE) 11-4fav (10-11) Tracked leaders, every chance 3 out, faded from next, 5th of 9, 18l behind Close House (11-5) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl (2) hvy in Dec.
Dark And Dangerous (IRE) 7-2 (10-6) Chased leaders, lost place before 4 out, soon behind, beaten when went left 2 out, tailed off, 6th of 9, 36l behind Jackies Solitaire (9-13) at Catterick 2m beg chs (3) hvy in Dec.
Drill Sergeant 14-1 (11-12) Mid-division on inside, ridden and outpaced before 3 out, never able to challenge, weakened last, 5th of 10, 27l behind Monetary Fund (10-13) at Musselburgh 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (3) sft.
Dr Livingstone (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, ridden and hung left over 1f out, stayed on strongly final furlong, went 2nd towards finish, 2nd of 11, 3/4l behind Representingceltic (10-4) at Lingfield 2m n h flat (4) std.
First In The Queue (IRE) 66-1 (10-3) Always towards rear, never involved, 11th of 21, 34l behind Cause Of Causes (10-13) at Ascot 2m Listed hcp hdl (1) hvy in Dec.
Judiciary (IRE) 33-1 (10-7) In touch, ridden approaching 2 out, soon beaten, 20th of 22, 46l behind Dark Lover (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (3) gs in Oct.
Micheal Flips (IRE) 5-1 (11-6) Not fluent and soon towards rear, reminder 5th, struggling 8th, pulled up before 12th, in a race won by Big Fella Thanks (11-12) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft, 10 ran.
Oscar Prairie (IRE) 11-4fav (11-0) Led, ridden over 2f out, headed 1f out, soon weakened, 5th of 11, 3 1/2l behind Representingceltic (10-4) at Lingfield 2m n h flat (4) std.
Ranjaan (FR) 8-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway to get in behind leaders 3 out, weakened before next, 12th of 21, 35l behind Cause Of Causes (10-13) at Ascot 2m Listed hcp hdl (1) hvy in Dec.
Royal Etiquette (IRE) 28-1 (10-12) Mid-division, took keen hold, mistake 4th, weakened next, hampered 3 out, tailed off, 8th of 12, well behind Jolly Roger (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m 3yo hdl (4) gs in Nov '10.
Starluck (IRE) 6-1 (11-9) Held up off the pace in mid-division, headway to chase leaders approaching 3 out, chased leader on long run to 2 out until approaching 2 out, ridden disputing over 2 lengths 2nd and held when fell last, in a race won by Whitby Jack (10-5) at Kempton 2m hcp hdl 0-140 (3) sft, 11 ran.
Status Symbol (IRE) 11-1 (11-5) Led, clear 2nd, mistake next and 4th, reduced lead approaching 5th, headed approaching 2 out and mistake, lost 2nd and no chance with winner when blundered last, weakened flat, 4th of 9, 16l behind Kazlian (11-0) at Leicester 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Jan '12.
Vimiero (USA) 9-1 (11-9) Mid-division on inside, headway after 5th, switched right before last, stayed on same pace flat, 3rd of 13, 4l behind Drumlang (10-10) at Huntingdon 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Oct.
Woolfall Treasure 22-1 (11-12) Led, not fluent 3rd, ridden and headed soon after 3 out, weakened quickly, 6th of 15, 29l behind Stars Du Granits (11-7) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Oct.
Where's Susie 16-1 (10-10) Mid-division, ridden after 6th, weakened before next, pulled up before last, in a race won by Oenologue (11-1) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Feb '10, 16 ran.
Lady Romanza (IRE) 28-1 (9-11) Chased leader to before 2 out, soon weakened, 6th of 14, 33l behind Chat Room (11-6) at Catterick 2m mdn hdl (5) hvy in Dec.
