prominent, led 5th, soon headed, outpaced 3 out, switched left and rallied last, held by winner towards finish
led until 5th, lost place 5 out, well beaten before 3 out
held up, mistake 5 out, well beaten when mistake 4 out, pulled up after mistake 3 out
prominent, led after 5th, headed 3 out, lost 2nd last, stayed on same pace
jumped left, held up, not fluent 5 out, soon struggling, modest 4th before 3 out
behind, closed 3rd, challenged from 5 out, led and mistake 3 out, hung right flat, stayed on
A worrying cocktail of chasers past their prime and inexperienced jockeys but UHLAN BUTE hinted at a revival at Ludlow last month and any further improvement would put Venetia Williams’ 11-year-old in the firing-line. Skipping On will have needed his Newcastle run and Finnegan's Garden and Tara Bridge are past course winners but the fences usually get in the way of Private Malone. Shanahan's Turn is thrown in on past form and wasn’t disgraced at Chepstow last month so looks the danger to the selection with Harry Kimber claiming 8lb.
Shanahan's Turn (IRE) 9-1 (12-4) Led, headed narrowly after 11th, ridden and unable to go with winner after 5 out, lost 2nd after next, stayed on when hard pressed for modest 3rd from last, 3rd of 7, 9l behind Eceparti (11-10) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Uhlan Bute (FR) 8-1 (11-3) Prominent when mistake 1st, chased leaders, lost place 7th, headway 13th, led 16th, mistake and headed 4 out, no extra flat, 4th of 9, 10l behind Bobo Mac (11-3) at Ludlow 3m 2f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Skipping On (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) Disputed lead until chased leader 8th, every chance 3 out, weakened after next, 4th of 5, 21 1/2l behind Charlie Snow Angel (10-0) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Nov.
Private Malone (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) Bumped 1st, chased leaders, went 2nd 5th until 10th, chased leaders, weakened next, pulled up before last, at Stratford 2m 5f hcp (4) sft in Oct.
Tara Bridge 20-1 (11-8) Chased leader until after 5th, chased leaders, 2nd again 5 out, every chance when hit next, still every chance approaching 3 out, weakened next, lost modest 3rd last 100 yards, 4th of 10, 5l behind Inaminna (11-5) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (4) gs in Mar.
Finnegan's Garden (IRE) 8-1 (11-3) Held up, closed on outside 4 out, disputing 2nd 2 out, one pace and held last, no extra flat, 3rd of 5, 10l behind Duhallow Lad (11-5) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Nov.
