held up in last pair, closer order 6th, awkward 8th, outpaced and no chance 4 out, plugged on into modest 4th last
held up in rear, blundered 2nd, slight bump 9th, outpaced 4 out, modest 4th approaching 2 out until the last
pressed leader, led 5th, mistake and narrowly headed 4 out, pressed leader, led again 2 out, went right last, edged right run-in, driven out
held up off the pace in 5th, outpaced 4 out, no chance after
tracked leading pair, travelling well before 3 out, driven between last 2, driven into 2nd run-in, kept on same pace
chased leading pair, jumped slowly 4 out, mistake and weakened next
slight lead until 5th, pressed winner, led again narrowly 4 out, headed 2 out, ridden before last, lost 2nd run-in, kept on same pace in 3rd
Dance Floor King is still unbeaten over fences after completing his hat-trick at Ascot a couple of weeks ago. But he's racing from out of the handicap in this better contest and has also shot up the weights. Jumps Road is still a maiden over fences and Colin Tizzard is struggling for winners. Donald McCain's yard is also in the doldrums so Desert Cry is best watched returning from a break while William's Wishes is still 5lb higher than when winning this two years ago. MR MOLE was on his best behaviour when beating Brick Red by just over two lengths at Exeter. He can be a bit of a character but McCoy knows how to get the best out of him and he's fancied to confirm form with the runner-up and follow up here back in a handicap as Parsnip Pete may be better on quicker ground nowadays.
Desert Cry (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, headway to chase leaders 5 out, led 4 out, blundered 2 out, headed run-in, kept on and just held towards finish, 2nd of 7, nk behind Le Bacardy (10-1) at Ayr 2m lstd hcp chs (1) gs in Apr.
William's Wishes (IRE) 20-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, headway before 2 out, never on terms, 6th of 10, 14l behind Dodging Bullets (11-7) at Sandown 2m Grade 1 chs (4yo+) (1) sft in Dec.
Mr Mole (IRE) Evensfav (11-7) Made virtually all, not fluent 6th, in command before 2 out, kept on well flat, won at Exeter 2m 1f grad ch (2) sft in Dec beating Brick Red (11-7) by 2 1/4l, 3 ran.
Parsnip Pete 16-1 (11-12) Held up in mid-division, headway 4th, went 2nd 7th until ridden before 2 out, soon beaten, weakened last, 5th of 7, 27l behind Sew On Target (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs (2) gs in Dec.
Brick Red 7-4 (11-7) Tracked leading pair, closer before 4 out, not fluent 8th, soon pushed along, ridden and stayed on into 2nd at the last, kept on same pace flat, 2nd of 3, 2 1/4l behind Mr Mole (11-7) at Exeter 2m 1f grad ch (2) sft in Dec.
Jumps Road 6-1 (11-1) Prominent, not fluent 6th, ridden approaching 2 out, no impression on winner before last, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 9, 7l behind Top Gamble (11-8) at Warwick 2m nov hcap ch (3) sft in Dec.
Dance Floor King (IRE) 10-3 (10-11) Jumped well, led until after 3rd, tracked leader, led again 6th until 9th, chased leader, led again 2 out, ridden and stayed on well run-in, won at Ascot 2m 1f nov hcap ch (3) sft in Dec beating Garrahalish (11-8) by 3/4l, 5 ran.
Le Bacardy (FR) 8-1 (11-9) Behind, struggling 8th, weakened and behind from 4 out, tailed off, 7th of 8, well behind Gardefort (10-12) at Ludlow 2m hcp chs 0-140 (3) gs in Dec.
