held up in mid-division, not fluent 1st, headway when not fluent 4th, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, lost place 4th, 6th and struggling 3 out, soon weakened
led, jumped right 1st, headed after 3 out, weakened next
prominent until 4th, struggling from next
held up towards rear, pushed along 4th, remote 7th 3 out, soon behind, pulled up before next
prominent on outside, ridden before 4th, weakened after 3 out
held up, headway approaching 4th, ridden and went 2nd before 2 out, challenged last, soon led, edged right towards finish, driven out
tracked leaders, went 2nd 4th, challenged 3 out, soon led, 5 lengths clear when mistake 2 out, joined when slow last, soon headed, stayed on same pace
mid-division, closed before 3rd, lost place next, behind 5th, pulled up before 2 out
held up in rear, behind 5th, plugged on from 2 out, no chance
held up in mid-division, mistake 1st, struggling from 4th, pulled up before 2 out
held up towards rear, ridden after 3rd, well behind 5th
There has to be a question mark over Avel Vor here after yet another failure at Wincanton last week while another four-year-old, Craftybird, probably has a bit to find at the weights. But Shady Lane opened his account at Fakenham last month while When Ben When has hinted at ability. So has French import Vent Nivernais, though he might need this. G'DAI SYDNEY won at Plumpton last month and was a close-up third off a 7lb higher mark at Wincanton on Boxing Day. He's gone up another 3lb but is progressing and gets the nod in this opener.
When Ben When (IRE) 20-1 (10-5) Chased leaders, led 3rd until 3 out, chased leaders, hit 2 out, weakened into 4th flat, 4th of 16, 7l behind Sidbury Hill (10-5) at Chepstow 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gs in Dec.
Vent Nivernais (FR) Shaanmer gelding out of Lobella.
Shady Lane 3-1fav (11-6) Clear with leader until led approaching 4 out, clear when hit 2 out, ridden out, won at Fakenham 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Dec beating Running Wolf (10-1) by 5l, 8 ran.
Welcometothejungle 20-1 (10-10) In touch on outside, outpaced 2 out, soon weakened, 6th of 18, 24l behind Abigail Lynch (10-7) at Wincanton 2m mrs nov hdl (4) gs in Dec.
G'dai Sydney 7-2fav (11-11) Held up behind, headway 3 out, ridden to chase leading pair after next, kept on flat, just failed for 2nd, 3rd of 13, 1 1/2l behind Dont Call Me Oscar (9-13) at Wincanton 2m nov hcp hdl 0-100 (5) sft in Dec.
Be My Witness (IRE) 14-1 (9-11) Chased leader until 3rd, chased leading pair until weakened before 3 out, behind wen blundered and unseated rider 3 out, in a race won by Pass The Time (11-12) at Ludlow 2m mrs hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Dec, 7 ran.
Vesuvhill (FR) 25-1 (10-12) Prominent, took keen hold, led before 7th, not fluent and headed 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before next, in a race won by Monbeg Theatre (11-1) at Towcester 2m 3f NH nov hdl 4-6yo (4) hvy in Nov, 8 ran.
Avel Vor (IRE) 13-8fav (11-2) Tracked leaders, ridden and not quicken after 2 out, switched left before last, stayed on flat, 3rd of 7, 3l behind Miss Sassypants (11-10) at Wincanton 2m nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy.
Bahumbug 50-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, led approaching 2nd, headed 5th, weakening when mistake 2 out, 6th of 10, 29l behind The Green Ogre (11-7) at Plumpton 2m nov hdl (4) hvy in Dec.
Mollyow (IRE) 50-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, driven before 3 out, soon lost place, weakened next, 6th of 10, 26l behind Hollywood All Star (10-13) at Uttoxeter 2m nov hcp hdl 0-100 (5) hvy in Dec.
Craftybird 25-1 (10-13) Tracked winner, effort and every chance 2 out, one pace before last, ridden and no impression in 3rd flat, 3rd of 10, 7l behind Hollywood All Star (10-13) at Uttoxeter 2m nov hcp hdl 0-100 (5) hvy in Dec.
Soeur Blanche (IRE) 100-1 (10-5) Always behind, struggling 7th, tailed off 4 out, 10th of 11, well behind Tara Mist (10-10) at Ludlow 2m 5f mares NH nov hdl (4) gs in Dec.
