mid-division, headway 4th, reminder approaching 6th, 5th when pulled up before 4 out
chased leaders, lost place when hit 9th, behind 11th, tailed off
in touch, lost place when not fluent 3rd, behind 11th, mistake 3 out, stayed on flat, no impression
jumped left, led until 3rd, led 5th until 4 out, weakening when not fluent 2 out
mid-division, pushed along 7th, headway 9th, switched right and outpaced approaching 4 out, stayed on flat, went 3rd towards finish
held up, in rear, headway approaching 4 out, chased winner 2 out until last, no extra flat
mid-division, mistake 7th, headway approaching 4 out, beaten last
with leader, led 3rd until 5th, remained pressing, every chance 4 out, weakened last
mid-division, headway approaching 4 out, hit 3 out, beaten approaching last
prominent until 3rd, weakened approaching 6th, pulled up before 8th
held up, towards rear, jumped left 2nd, mistake and unseated rider 8th
held up, in rear, hampered 8th, headway approaching 2 out, went 2nd last, no chance with winner
always behind
chased leaders, hit 3rd, led 4 out, stayed on well to draw clear flat, eased close home
mid-division, mistake 4th, pushed along next, soon lost place, pulled up before 7th
BLUE DARK is preferred to Bold Punt and Grand Bay amongst others. Better was expected from the selection when he made his chase bow in a Wincanton handicap but he failed to fire and produced a very tame performance. However, his yard are in far better form now so it's well worth giving him the chance to live up to those initial expectations. Bold Punt is another with something to prove having disappointed on all three starts over fences last term but he's well handicapped on his form over timber and could be a danger to all if connections can get him back to his best. Grand Bay is still a maiden but he's unexposed in this sphere and may benefit from this drop back in trip having returned a beaten favourite over further the last twice. Massini Sunset won this race the last time it was run but is significantly higher now and bigger threats may be Runshan and Briery Star who was made favourite for her sole start over fences only to disappoint but hails from a shrewd, in-form yard. This does look open but Blue Dark could be ahead of the game if he lives up to expectations.
Black Ven (IRE) 10-1 (11-9) Prominent, under pressure 8th, soon outpaced, headway after last, stayed on well, no chance with winner, 2nd of 6, 5l behind Rince Donn (10-11) at Folkestone 2m 5yo nov hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Phar Again (IRE) 33-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, weakened 2 out, 6th of 13, 21l behind Noun De La Thinte (10-4) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Dec.
Gentleman Jimmy 14-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, lost place 5th, rallied next, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off, 6th of 7, well behind Global Flyer (11-4) at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Dec.
Runshan (IRE) 6-1 (10-7) Disputed lead, till led 3rd, ridden approaching 4 out, joined last, driven flat, headed post, 2nd of 11, ns behind Bubble Boy (11-4) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Dec.
Massini Sunset (IRE) 4-1 (9-13) Chased leaders, lost place 5th, ridden approaching 4 out, weakened before 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Bertie May (10-10) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy in Dec, 9 ran.
Space Star 18-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, ridden approaching 7th, weakened next, behind when mistake 2 out, 10th of 14, 31l behind Master At Arms (11-5) at Stratford 2m 3f 4yo Am hcp hdl (4) gd in May.
Katalak (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Held up in touch, hard driven approaching 2 out, never able to challenge, 5th of 6, 12l behind Rince Donn (10-11) at Folkestone 2m 5yo nov hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Irish Guard 20-1 (10-13) Mid-division, lost place 15th, soon behind, pulled up before 5 out, in a race won by Fine By Me (9-12) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Dec, 13 ran.
Blue Dark (FR) 7-2fav (11-2) Tracked leaders, ridden and effort approaching 3 out, lost place next, soon weakened, 5th of 14, 21l behind Plein Pouvoir (11-12) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Dec.
Bold Punt (IRE) 9-2 (11-5) Led, headed 9th, ridden 4 out, weakened next, 5th of 12, 42l behind Peter Pole (11-12) at Exeter 3m nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Mar.
Grand Bay (USA) 4-1fav (11-10) Held up towards rear, headway 10th, 3rd and jumped right from 3 out, no impression when mistake last, 3rd of 13, 18l behind Plum Pudding (11-10) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs in Jan.
Thedreamstillalive (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Tracked leader, chasing leaders when mistake 2 out, soon weakened, 5th of 7, 30l behind Celian (11-2) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (4) sft in Jan.
Wonderwinder (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Mid-division, raced keenly, not fluent 3rd, closed soon after, ridden after 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 5th of 8, 24l behind Cheshire Prince (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Nov.
Cesium (FR) 7-2 (10-9) Towards rear, ridden after 8th, soon struggling, 9th of 12, well behind King Jack (11-12) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp ch 0-110 (4) sft.
Briery Star 8-1 (10-11) Held up towards rear, weakened approaching 2 out, 8th of 12, well behind Of Course (11-9) at Carlisle 2m 4f am hcp hdl 0-105 (4) hvy in Nov.
Aldiruos (IRE) 40-1 (10-11) Behind, reminders 8th, never dangerous, 9th of 11, well behind Knighton Combe (11-12) at Ascot 3m nov hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Nov.
