led until fell 7th
bit keen, tracked leaders, hit 5th, left 2nd and hampered by faller at 7th, hit 3 out (normal 4 out), every chance bypassing 2 out, still well there last, weakened run-in
chased leaders, left 3rd at 7th, hit next, weakening and in rear when mistake 9th, tailed off
chased leader, left in clear lead 7th, ridden and joined bypassing 2 out, headed approaching last, rallied close home, just held
held up in last pair, behind 6th, hampered next, headway out wide chasing leaders 9th, outpaced 2 out (normal 3 out)
held up, left 4th at 7th, went 3rd next, pushed along home turn, challenged omitted 2 out, led approaching last, all out
chased leaders, jinked right to avoid faller and unseated rider 7th
THEBANNERKINGREBEL may have been penalised for finishing alone here last month but he remains a novice of some potential. He’s preferred to Up The Straight, last of two finishers at Ascot, and The Raven's Return, who didn’t get far at Ffos Las on his chasing bow. But Foxboro is one to note having won twice over hurdles in France in 2019 and Ar Mest has already placed three times in handicaps over fences.
Thebannerkingrebel (IRE) 13-8 (11-0) Left alone by rival 1st, jumped well apart from mistake 4 out, completed in own time, won at Plumpton 2m 1f (3) gs in Dec.
Ar Mest (FR) 14-1 (11-2) Jumped left throughout, in rear, hit 2nd, steady headway under pressure before 2 out, stayed on without troubling leaders from last, 3rd of 6, 12l behind Enzo D'Airy (10-11) at Ascot 2m 1f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Bit Of A Legend 200-1 (11-0) Prominent, ridden after 7th, lost place before 8th, detached 3 out, tailed off before 2 out, 6th of 7, dist behind Little Awkward (11-0) at Plumpton 2m 5f mdn (4) sft in Dec.
Foxboro (GER) (11-0) won at Strasbourg 2m 1f gs in Oct beating Little Buzz (10-7) by 6l, 10 ran.
The Raven's Return 7-1 (11-6) Held up last, all but fell and unseated rider 1st, at Ffos Las 2m hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Twenty Twenty (IRE) 7-2 (10-11) Disputed lead until ridden on long run to 2 out, weakened approaching last, lost 3rd flat, 4th of 0, 20l behind Top Gamble (11-0) at Lingfield 2m hcp (4) hvy in Dec.
Up The Straight (IRE) 8-1 (11-1) Chased leader, headway before 11th, left in lead 3 out, headed 2 out, kept on without threatening clear winner, 2nd of 3, 26l behind Chantry House (11-1) at Ascot 2m 3f (3) sft in Nov.
