held up, raced keen early, jumped slowly 3rd, headway 9th, weakened after 3 out, behind when hampered 2 out
mid-division, headway 6th, mistake 8th, ridden and every chance 2 out, no extra flat
chased winner, not fluent 5th, ridden after 3 out, every chance 2 out, stayed on flat
prominent, ridden 8th, weakened before next, tailed off 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
held up in rear, beaten after 8th, soon behind
in touch, not fluent 7th, ridden and beaten 3 out, hung left after 2 out
made all, ridden approaching 2 out, stayed on gamely flat
mid-division, headway approaching 8th, mistake 9th, soon weakened, well behind when fell last
held up, headway after 8th, mistake 3 out, ridden and held and 4 lengths 4th when blundered and unseated rider 2 out
Nonrunner
This longer trip could see Kealshore Lad bounce back to form Cryptic and Arafan appeal more with the Hobbs runner selected. A winning pointer in Ireland, he has progressed with each of his three starts and even better is expected now that he's stepped up in trip. The form of his win at Wincanton in November has worked out well and there was plenty to like about his win over the brush hurdles at Haydock. Arafan has only won once in twenty starts but appears to be on the upgrade and his second to The Tother One on his penultimate start entitles him to respect. Buena Vista has his stamina to prove on his seasonal return but According To Pete and Kealshore Lad should have their say in the outcome; Matcho Pierji is worth a second glance as his breeding points to this longer trip being in his favour. Others have stronger claims on the book though and, of those, Cryptic is selected.
Buena Vista (IRE) 13-2 (11-10) Chased winner, hit 10th, soon pushed along, 6 lengths down in 2nd and one pace when fell 3 out in race won by Natal (11-10) at Ayr 2m 4f nov chs Grd 2 (1) gf in Apr, 6 ran.
Kealshore Lad 9-2fav (9-11) Tracked leaders, pushed along after 4 out, outpaced from next, 9th of 11, 10l behind Naiad du Misselot (10-0) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) sft in Dec.
Cryptic 4-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, ridden 4 out, led between last 2, driven out, won at Haydock 2m 4f nov hdl (4) sft in Dec beating Plein Pouvoir (10-12) by 2l, 16 ran.
Barati (IRE) 33-1 (10-5) Settled 4th, ridden and weakened before 3 out, 18th of 20, 25l behind Cuan Na Grai (10-9) at Galway 2m hcp hdl gf in Aug '06.
Silver Sister 22-1 (11-1) Prominent, ridden 5th, soon weakened, 13th of 16, 48l behind Gauvain (11-8) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Dec.
Arafan (IRE) 8-1 (9-9) Held up, ridden, headway 4 out, weakened after 2 out, 5th of 9, 22l behind Hills Of Aran (10-9) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl (2) gs.
Ballyshan (IRE) 11-2 (10-8) Held up mid-division, headway approaching 8th, ridden 4 out, weakened next, 5th of 9, 19l behind Special Rate (10-8) at Bangor 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Dec.
Key Phil (FR) 12-1 (11-12) Mid-division until weakened after 4 out, 7th of 17, 29l behind Irish Legend (11-0) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft.
Matcho Pierji (FR) 7-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, ridden approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 8th of 11, 15l behind Oh Crick (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m 1f nov hcp hdl (3) gs.
According To Pete 8-1 (10-7) Held up, headway to lead approaching 3 out, soon headed, kept on from 2 out, 3rd of 11, 4l behind Naiad du Misselot (10-0) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) sft in Dec.
Mith Hill 5-1fav (11-4) In touch, led after 6th, headed before 3 out, soon weakened, 9th of 14, 44l behind Albany (11-6) at Wetherby 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Dec.
