in rear, just about in touch and ridden after 15th, no impression 4 out
led, clear at various stages, headed 14th, led again next, headed before 4 out, weakened from next
soon towards rear, last when mistake 8th, well beaten from 12th
chased leaders, lost place before 3rd, headway on outside 14th, challenged 4 out, soon led, switched right after 2 out, headed last, not clear run flat, switched left and held towards finish
tracked leaders, 2nd 13th, led next until blundered and unseated rider 15th
held up, closed 3rd, went 2nd after 5th, not fluent 9th, jumped right 10th, challenged 14th, led when blundered 4 out, soon headed, no extra last
prominent, hampered 15th, weakened before 4 out
in rear, not fluent 12th, well beaten 14th
mid-division, not fluent 7th, headway 11th, hampered 15th, challenged 3 out, switched right after 2 out, led last, switched right flat to avoid loose horse, stayed on
NonRunner
Over this shorter trip, Sumkindofking may well reverse recent course winner with Beau Du Brizais. Old-timers Fox Appeal and Opening Batsman would have a chance on past form but Above Board appears to have gone off the boil. Holly Bush Henry and Silverhow are others apparently out of sorts at present and this can go to SPIDER’S BITE. A winner here over hurdles, he found only one too good making his chasing bow at Ascot and can only improve on that run. Rightdownthemiddle has left Gordon Elliott since winning a seller over hurdles at Leicester.
Sumkindofking (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) Tracked leaders, led after 2 out, headed last, stayed on same pace flat, 2nd of 8, 2 1/4l behind Beau Du Brizais (11-0) at Ludlow 3m 2f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Tenor Nivernais (FR) 10-1 (11-10) Prominent, mistake and lost place 14th, behind 17th, 9th of 11, 26 1/4l behind Loose Chips (11-1) at Sandown 3m hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Rightdownthemiddle (IRE) 6-1 (11-4) Held up on outside, pushed along after 3 out, closed to take 3rd 2 out, went 2nd last, led flat, stayed on, won at Leicester 2m 4f (5) gf in Dec beating Shadow's Boy (11-4) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Holly Bush Henry (IRE) 7-1 (11-10) Mid-division, driven and headway 3 out, weakened before next, 6th of 9, dist behind Eminent Poet (11-7) at Sandown 2m 7f hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
Spider's Bite (IRE) 7-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, went 2nd 11th until before 15th, 2nd again 2 out, ridden before the last, every chance early run-in, no extra towards finish, 2nd of 11, 1 1/4l behind King Of Realms (11-8) at Ascot 3m hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Fox Appeal (IRE) 12-5 (11-9) Led until 2 out, no impression on winner, kept on same pace, 2nd of 3, 6l behind Braqueur D'Or (11-9) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp (3) gf in Nov.
Above Board (IRE) 4-1 (11-5) Held up, slow 1st, looked held when blundered 4 out, weakened next, tailed off, 6th of 9, dist behind Favorito Buck's (11-2) at Ascot 3m hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Opening Batsman (IRE) 25-1 (11-3) Led 1st, ridden before last, headed towards finish, lost 2 places close home, 4th of 11, 1 1/2l behind Touch Kick (11-1) at Hereford 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Beau Du Brizais (FR) 8-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, dived at 9th, led 3 out, blundered 2 out, soon headed, led again last, stayed on, won at Ludlow 3m 2f hcp (3) gs in Dec beating Sumkindofking (11-12) by 2 1/4l, 8 ran.
Silverhow (IRE) 9-2 (11-9) Tended to jump right, in touch in about 6th on inside, hit 7th, pushed along and struggling to go the pace before 12th, no chance after, 5th of 13, 19 1/2l behind Siruh Du Lac (11-0) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
