held up in rear, ridden approaching 4 out, kept on from after 2 out
tracked leader, led 3 out, headed next, weakened approaching last
held up, pushed along after 5 out, weakened from next
held up in touch, headway from 3 out, stayed on to lead towards finish
held up in touch, weakened from 4 out
tracked leaders, pushed along and lost place from 5 out
led, headed 3 out, regained lead last, headed towards finish
held up in rear, headway approaching 4 out, led 2 out, headed last, weakened flat
KILKENNY ALL STAR was impressive at the course last time and he can follow up at the expense of Polar Gunner and Sole Agent. Sue Smith has two in the race so the waters are somewhat muddied but having struggled to win a race, the eight-year-old looked particularly fit in the paddock before the last meeting and confirmed his well being with a top notch effort in the race. There is a suspicion that he caught his rivals napping but its worth noting that they were racing into a headwind so the distance will have seemed much further than the minimum trip. Polar Gunner continues to delight in his old age. The winner of last year's race, put simply, the wetter the better. Sole Agent has shown form on similar surfaces in the past. He is clearly not making the journey up North for the freshness of the West Yorkshire air. Le Roi Rouge is ordinarily seen over further than this trip. Magic Sky has warmed up for this with a run over hurdles while Camden George was burgled in a finish at Market Rasen and has been penalised an extra 2lb for his labours. Kilkenny All Star steps up in grade but the Smith's may well have found the key to him.
Magic Sky (FR) 12-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, 2nd on inside and every chance 2 out, dropped to 3rd soon after and lost 3rd final stride, 4th of 6, 9l behind Spear Thistle (11-11) at Lingfield 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) hvy in Nov.
Polar Gunner 5-2fav (10-12) Made all, ridden 3 out, stayed on well, won at Ayr 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Feb beating First Look (11-5) by 4 1/2l, 6 ran.
Camden George (IRE) 9-2 (10-12) Tracked leader, led 9th, 14 lengths clear 3 out, ridden and tired between last 2, headed after last, no extra, 2nd of 7, 1l behind Crocodiles Rock (11-9) at Market Rasen 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in Nov.
Le Roi Rouge (FR) 8-1 (11-0) In rear, some headway 3 out, outpaced next, no impression when hit last, 7th of 14, 17l behind Justwhateverulike (10-1) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Nov.
Kilkenny All Star (IRE) 5-2 (11-0) Tracked leader, led approaching 4 out, soon ridden, stayed on, won at Wetherby 2m hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Nov beating William Bonney (11-12) by 3l, 5 ran.
Sole Agent (IRE) 20-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, went 2nd before 8th, led 3 out, ridden and headed 2 out, weakened soon after, 7th of 10, 24l behind Nomecheki (11-6) at Plumpton 2m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (3) hvy in Nov.
Babe Heffron (IRE) 5-2 (11-12) Led at decent pace, ridden and headed 2 out, not pace of winner flat, 2nd of 6, 6l behind Suntini (11-12) at Lingfield 2m hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Nov.
Elite Land 4-1 (9-10) Held up towards rear, headway on outside 6th, weakened 3 out, 6th of 12, 32l behind Dontpaytheferryman (9-13) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) hvy in Nov.
