pulled hard in mid-division, tracked leaders 2nd, led after next, blundered 4th, headed after 4 out, lost place and blundered 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before last
took keen hold, tracked leaders, smooth headway 3 out, upsides next, led narrowly last, soon ridden, headed flat, no extra and held final 100 yards
tracked leaders to before 3 out, soon weakened
mid-division, chased leaders 3 out, challenged next, soon one pace, no chance with front pair before last
led, headed after 3rd, in touch, regained narrow lead after 4 out, headed approaching 2 out, weakened last
mid-division, lost place after 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off
held up behind, headway after 4 out, challenged 2 out, soon ridden and one pace, no impression in 4th before last
with leader, driven to lead narrowly approaching 2 out, soon ridden, headed narrowly last, regained lead flat, stayed on well, drew clear final 100 yards
mid-division on outer, went 4th after 4 out, lost place next, ridden and weakened before last
held up behind, mistake 4 out, soon struggling, never dangerous
Nicky Henderson boast a fantastic record in this having saddled the winner in seven of the last eight years. That's a huge pointer to the chances of PREMIER BOND, who made a very promising start over timber behind better-fancied stablemate O O Seven in a Class event at Sandown. Oldgrangewood will have learned plenty from his second at Market Rasen while Banyu and William H Bonney are already off the mark. Stonecutter was lightly raced on the Flat and won twice up to 1m6f on the all-weather, though may do better when upped in distance.
Banyu (FR) 9-2 (11-0) Took keen hold, not always fluent, prominent, challenging when bumped 3 out, went left and led next, went left and hit last, ran on, won at Ludlow 2m mdn (4) gs in Nov beating Magic Music Man (11-0) by 1 1/4l, 14 ran.
William H Bonney 4-6fav (10-12) Soon chasing leaders, led 2 out, strongly pressed when hit last, driven out run-in, won at Plumpton 2m (4) sft in Nov beating Manhattan Mead (10-12) by 2l, 12 ran.
Grandmaster George (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, 3rd approaching 3 out until before next, kept on same pace in 4th until the last, weakened run-in, 6th of 17, 31 1/4l behind Vieux Lille (10-12) at Exeter 2m 1f (4) hvy in Dec.
Icing On The Cake (IRE) 3-1 (11-8) Led until 3 out, weakened next, 5th of 10, 30 1/4l behind O O Seven (11-8) at Huntingdon 2m mdn (5) gs in Nov.
Jajamcool (IRE) 40-1 (10-12) Took keen hold, mid-division, tracked leaders 4th, ridden and one pace after 3 out, well beaten in 4th next, left remote 3rd at last, 3rd of 14, 36l behind Tapaculo (11-5) at Chepstow 2m 3f (4) hvy in Dec.
Oh So Gigolo (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) In touch, hard driven over 5f out, chased winner over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 5th of 10, 19 1/2l behind Vive Le Roi (11-0) at Worcester 2m (6) gd in Sep.
Oldgrangewood 10-3 (10-12) Mid-division, took keen hold, not fluent 2nd, headway 6th, switched left and went 2nd before 2 out, no impression on winner and stayed on same pace flat, 2nd of 10, 10l behind Barney Dwan (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 3f (4) gs in Nov.
Premier Bond 9-2 (10-12) Tracked leader, jumped slowly 3rd, ridden and every chance before 2 out, chased leading pair, went 2nd again and hung left approaching the last, driven and kept on run-in, 2nd of 6, 1 1/4l behind O O Seven (11-4) at Sandown 2m (3) sft in Dec.
Stonecutter (IRE) 12-1 (9-1) Prominent, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 10, 10 3/4l behind Magic Circle (8-2) at Doncaster 1m 7f hcp (3) gs in Oct.
Talk Of The South (IRE) 100-1 (11-0) Held up, always in rear, weakened before 2 out, tailed off, last of 8, dist behind Label Des Obeaux (11-0) at Sandown 2m 4f (1) sft in Dec.
