held up, headway 13th, chased winner 4 out, weakened next
chased leaders, led after 2nd, headed after 5th, soon pushed along, pulled up before 6th
towards rear, blundered 14th, headway 5 out, chased winner approaching 2 out, one pace
tracked leaders, not fluent 4th, weakened from 14th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
led to 2nd, led again 7th, headed after 13th, weakened 5 out, pulled up before 3 out
held up, went prominent 6th, led after 13th, clear when blundered badly 2 out, driven out
held up, ridden and weakened from 10th, tailed off when pulled up before 5 out
in touch, went 2nd after 4 out until 2 out, weakened from last
held up, blundered 6th, effort approaching 13th, weakened from 4 out, fell last, remounted
tracked leaders, led after 5th, headed 7th, hit 9th, soon pushed along and struggling
Nonrunner
Rosses Point sets the standard for the rest here and is preferred to Mon Mome and Sharp Belline. The selection won with something in hand at Taunton last time when beating Jaunty Times and this progressive 8-year-old from the Evan Williams yard looks the the one to beat again today. Mon Mome is a real mudlark and he chased home Ladalko at Warwick last time. He is a thorough stayer so this drop in trip will not necessarily play to his strengths and we are happy to take him on. Sharp Belline is another who loves heavy ground and he beat The Outlier at Haydock last time. However, he is steadily rising in the weights and he will need to improve again to get his head in front today. Ever Present is in cracking form and is another to consider, but Rosses Point looks a smart prospect and he gets the vote.
Mon Mome (FR) 5-1 (11-1) Held up towards rear, headway 15th, ridden and every chance 2 out, weakened last, 2nd of 13, 4l behind Ladalko (11-1) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) hvy.
Ever Present (IRE) 15-8fav (10-10) Made all, 12 lengths clear last, tired and wandered right final 50 yards, just held on, won at Kelso 3m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (2) hvy in Dec beating Rambling Minster (10-0) by 1l, 8 ran.
Ardaghey (IRE) 33-1 (10-8) Chased leader, led 7th, 16 lengths clear 11th, jumped badly left after, headed 15th, pressed leaders, stumbled 3 out, one pace from next, 6th of 18, 23l behind Billyvoddan (10-12) at Ascot 3m lst hcp chs (1) gs in Dec.
Nadover (FR) 9-2 (11-10) Chased leaders, hit 6th, led 9th until 15th, pressed winner, ridden after 3 out, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 12, 5l behind Kerstino Two (11-0) at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-140 (2) sft.
Umbrella Man (IRE) 11-2 (11-8) Chased leaders, led 9th, clear when blundered next, ridden approaching last, driven and all out flat, won at Kempton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Nov beating Kosmos Bleu (11-1) by 2l, 8 ran.
Simon 11-2fav (10-2) Chased leaders, mistake 13th, ridden when not fluent 15th, outpaced approaching 5 out, plugged on one pace from 2 out, 6th of 18, 19l behind Halcon Genelardais (11-3) at Chepstow 3m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) sft in Dec.
Little Big Horse (IRE) 40-1 (9-9) Mid-division, headway after 13th, led after 14th, ridden and headed after 4 out, one pace flat, 4th of 10, 9l behind Leading Man (10-0) at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) sft in Dec.
Mount Clerigo (IRE) 16-1 (9-9) Held up in touch on outside, ridden approaching 12th, weakened after 17th, blundered 5 out, tailed off, 12th of 18, well behind Halcon Genelardais (11-3) at Chepstow 3m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) sft in Dec.
Rosses Point (IRE) 8-13fav (10-8) Held up, headway 5 out, led on bit soon after 4 out, clear last, comfortably, won at Ludlow 3m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Dec beating Jaunty Times (11-12) by 4l, 6 ran.
Sharp Belline (IRE) 11-1 (10-10) Led, headed 11th, led 4 out, hung right flat, stayed on, won at Haydock 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) hvy in Dec beating The Outlier (11-12) by 2l, 8 ran.
Whispered Secret (GER) 33-1 (10-11) Held up in rear, hit 9th and 2 out, stayed on approaching last, kept on well flat, took 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 9, 3l behind Saintsaire (10-11) at Newbury 2m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft in Nov.
Herecomestanley 11-4fav (10-0) Held up, headway 13th, chased leader after 3 out, led next, ridden out, won at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Dec beating Iris Royal (11-10) by a nk, 8 ran.
