held up, smooth headway to challenge winner 4 out, ridden next, every chance when hit last, not recover
led, hit and headed 7th, ridden and weakening when blundered 4 out
towards rear, tracked leaders halfway, ridden 4 out, soon one pace
always behind, ridden 5 out, weakening when hit next
in touch, blundered and unseated rider 4th
tracked leader, hit 2nd, led 7th, joined 4 out, ridden approaching 2 out, staying on when left leader last
mid-division, lost place halfway, pulled up before 4 out
held up towards rear, tracked leaders halfway, fell 9th
tracked leaders until ridden and weakened 9th, soon beaten
mid-division, ridden and weakened from 11th
CYBORA impressed when winning at Leicester last time and Ferdy Murphy's mare can make it three victories from her last four starts here. Smart Man at the foot of the weights appears the biggest danger while Festival King, if none the worse for his fall at Wetherby is another contender. Cybora is showing the benefits of selective campaigning from her trainer and won in the style of a mare on the improve last time out. Smart Man dropped to a very reasonable mark and made full use of that at Newcastle and even with an 8lb rise is still on a feasible mark to achieve a follow up. Festival King takes a drop back in trip here and whether that will entirely suit him is questionable. Benmadigan is another one to consider but Cybora is the selection.
Cybora (FR) 11-4fav (10-9) Held up in rear, steady headway from 9th, led 2 out, drew clear flat, eased near finish, won at Leicester 2m 4f chs 0-90 (5) gd in Nov beating Royal Hilarity (10-12) by 14l, 10 ran.
Silver Steel (FR) 8-1 (11-2) Mid-division, mistake 7th, weakened 3 out, 8th of 12, well behind Banoge (11-2) at Sedgefield 2m 4f mdn chs (4) gs in Nov.
Za Beau (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) Chased leading pair, ridden when mistake 4 out, soon weakened, behind when pulled up at the last in race won by Red Man Ray (11-5) at Kelso 2m 1f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Oct, 9 ran.
Benmadigan (IRE) 7-2fav (11-12) In touch chasing group, effort to go 2nd 3 out, outpaced next, soon weakened, 5th of 11, 30l behind Valerius (11-8) at Perth 3m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf in Jul.
Amour Daria (FR) 6-1 (11-12) (ts) held up; stdy hdwy 14; ev ch last; one-pcd flat, 3rd of 16, 2l behind George The Grey (12-5) at Witton Castle 3m ptp gd in May.
Festival King (IRE) 4-1 (10-3) Held up in mid-division when fell at the 4th in race won by Ngong Hills (10-8) at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gf in Oct, 10 ran.
Shavhale (IRE) 20-1 (10-13) Chased leaders early, soon mid-division, ridden and weakened before 4 out, behind when pulled up in race won by Supreme Deck (10-13) at Sligo 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-90 gs in Aug, 13 ran.
Giant Star (USA) 125-1 (10-12) Behind, outpaced when hit 4 out, never dangerous, 8th of 11, well behind Mr Woods (10-5) at Ayr 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Lerida 9-2jt-fav (10-5) Prominent, weakened after 6th, tailed off when pulled up at the last in race won by Duke of Malfi (11-3) at Hexham 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) hvy in Nov, 11 ran.
Smart Man 9-2jt-fav (10-8) Balked 1st, mid-division, headway 13th, pushed along approaching 4 out, left in lead 2 out, headed after last, rallied, soon led, just held on, won at Newcastle 3m hcp chs (5) gd in Oct beating Sam Cruise (11-0) by a hd, 15 ran.
