mid-division, mistake 3rd, headway approaching 3 out, ridden 2 out, no extra when mistake last
chased leader, jumped right 5th, led flat, soon headed, no impression on winner towards finish
held up towards rear, not fluent 5th, well beaten when pecked slightly 3 out
raced keenly, led, edged right and headed flat, 3rd and no extra towards finish
held up towards rear, weakened after 5th, tailed off before 3 out
keen in last, mistake 3rd and unseated rider
chased leaders, lost place from 2 out, well behind 5th, pulled up before 3 out
held up towards rear, mistakes, closed after 5th, hanging left before 2 out, kept on flat, no impression
mid-division, headway before 3 out, edged left and outpaced before 2 out, kept on without threatening flat
mid-division, not always fluent, outpaced from 3 out, well beaten before last
tracked leaders, disputing 2nd 3 out, soon beaten
chased leaders, pushed along after 3 out, driven from 2 out, stayed on well to lead flat, clear towards finish
Gowel Road, denied a winning opportunity when Chepstow was abandoned on Sunday, bids for quick compensation. He is well bred and made an odds-on favourite work hard for victory on debut at Ffos Las but GOOD BALL also has a jumping pedigree and the form of his Auteuil second in October was franked when the third won next time. Paul Nicholls has no qualms about putting the three-year-old in against older horses on his first start in the UK. Just In Time won six times on the Flat and has a rating in the 90s so warrants a second look but it’s difficult to evaluate Golden Boy Grey’s defeat of three rivals at Sandown and he carries a penalty. Cascova is probably best watched after a long absence.
Golden Boy Grey (FR) 11-2 (10-12) Close up in 3rd, niggled approaching 2 out, headway to press leader last, quickened clear impressively, won at Sandown 2m (3) hvy in Dec beating Grand Mogul (11-4) by 9l, 4 ran.
Cascova (IRE) 9-2 (11-0) Tracked winner until ridden approaching 2 out, pulled up next, at Ascot 2m (2) sft in Nov.
Catfish Row (8-11) 4th of 11, 4 1/4l behind Soleil D'Octobre (8-13) at Saint-Cloud 1m 2f stks hvy in Oct.
Finistere (FR) 14-1 (11-0) Towards rear, some progress to midfield turning for home, pushed after 3f out, ridden 2f out, unable to quicken, 7th of 10, 14 1/4l behind Luttrell Lad (11-0) at Market Rasen 2m 1f (5) gd in Nov.
Fitz Well (IRE) 40-1 (11-0) In touch in mid-division, closed after 2 out, 4th and held last, kept on flat, 4th of 11, 4 1/4l behind Presentedwithwings (11-0) at Hereford 2m 4f mdn (4) gs in Nov.
Freethinker (IRE) 12-1 (11-4) Held up last of all, brief progress when pushed along over 4f out, never involved, 9th of 12, 26 3/4l behind Nina The Terrier (10-11) at Doncaster 2m 1f (5) gd in Nov.
Gats And Co 100-1 (10-12) Raced keenly, chased leaders, hung left and weakened after 3 out, 7th of 11, 25l behind Bear Ghylls (11-4) at Ffos Las 2m (4) sft in Nov.
Gowel Road (IRE) 11-1 (10-12) Mid-division, good headway chasing leaders before 3 out, hung left soon after, led narrowly 2 out, hung left run-in, headed and no extra final 100 yards, 2nd of 11, 1 1/2l behind Bear Ghylls (11-4) at Ffos Las 2m (4) sft in Nov.
Grumpy Charley 33-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, close 3rd after 4 out, went 2nd next, ridden between last 2, stayed on same pace, no chance with winner, 2nd of 5, 4 3/4l behind Adrimel (11-5) at Haydock 2m (2) hvy in Dec.
Just In Time 14-1 (9-1) Raced wide held up, headway 2f out, weakened final furlong, 13th of 17, 9 1/4l behind Euchen Glen (9-7) at Haydock 1m 6f hcp (2) sft in Sep.
Blarney Bateleur (IRE) 33-1 (10-5) Chased leaders, pressed leader 9th, not fluent 3 out and pushed along, faded from 2 out, 8th of 12, 18 3/4l behind Game Socks (10-12) at Plumpton 2m 5f mdn (4) gs in Dec.
Good Ball (FR) (10-5) 2nd of 12, 1 1/4l behind Teahupoo (10-5) at Auteuil 2m 2f hvy in Oct.
Don't Jump George (IRE) 25-1 (9-7) Tracked leaders, ridden to chase leader over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, kept on one pace, 2nd of 7, 3 3/4l behind Flyin' Solo (9-5) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f mdn stks (5) pol in Dec.
