held up in rear, mistakes 7th and 14th, never involved, poor 6th when blundered and unseated rider 2 out
tracked winner until 11th, blundered 13th, 2nd again before mistake 4 out, ridden before next, lost 2nd when mistake 2 out, weakened before last
jumped well, made all, clear 4 out, stayed on gamely, driven out
chased leaders, lost place 11th, never on terms after, poor 7th when pulled up 3 out
behind and reminders 5th, mistake 7th, reminders and struggling after 10th, blundered 11th, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
chased leaders, blundered and lost place 12th, blundered badly next, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
held up towards rear, mistake 11th, headway chasing leaders and blundered 13th, 3rd 2 out, went 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner
chased leaders, went 2nd 11th, mistake 13th, driven along and lost 2nd before 4 out, weakened soon after, eased and pulled up approaching 3 out
held up, headway tracking leaders 9th, 3rd 4 out, went 2nd 2 out, ridden and no impression before last, no extra in 3rd towards finish
raced wide, chased leaders 2nd, weakened 15th
There has been no winner of this aged nine or older in the last eight years so Uttoxeter second Alta Rock, who has been raised another 3lb since, looks up against it, though the consistent Nalim must have some sort of chance with Harry Bannister taking off 5lb. Donapollo had Generous Chief 11 lengths behind when winning a lesser contest at Kelso earlier this month and enters calculations but Longueville Flier was pulled out of a race at Sedgefield yesterday because of the soft going so wouldn't want any more rain. ITSTIMEFORAPINT won easily here on Boxing Day last year. He climbed the weights after but the handicapper is starting to show some leniency again and he could go well in this eased in grade. Blue Kascade looks best of the rest.
Tiny Dancer (IRE) 3-1fav (11-5) Held up towards rear, headway 7th, not fluent 11th, blundered 5 out, went 3rd before 4 out, blundered 4 out, weakened before 3 out, 4th of 6, 16 3/4l behind Indian Voyage (10-9) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Mar.
Itstimeforapint (IRE) 20-1 (10-0) In rear, mistakes 2nd, 4th and 7th, ridden and struggling 9th, well behind 14th, hampered by loose horse, crashed through wing and unseated rider 2 out, at Haydock 2m 6f hcp (2) sft in Apr.
Blue Kascade (IRE) 12-1 (10-1) Not fluent 1st, always towards rear, driven and struggling after 7th, 7th of 12, 18l behind Wicked Spice (11-12) at Ayr 3m hcp (3) gd in Apr.
Donapollo 7-2fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, led 3 out, ridden before last, kept on well, won at Kelso 2m 7f hcp (5) gf in Oct beating Solway Bay (11-9) by 6l, 6 ran.
Generous Chief (IRE) 7-1 (11-9) In rear, pushed along before 7 out, soon outpaced, headway 2 out, kept on, 3rd of 6, 11l behind Donapollo (11-12) at Kelso 2m 7f hcp (5) gf in Oct.
Alta Rock (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Held up, headway 5th, went 2nd 13th, mistake 3 out, no impression on winner from next, not fluent last, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 10, 4l behind Double Chocolate (10-7) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp (5) gd in Oct.
Longueville Flier (IRE) 8-1 (10-0) Always behind, 6th of 8, 33 1/2l behind Gleann Na Ndochais (11-11) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Mansonien L'as (FR) 5-1 (11-4) Led 3rd, headed after next, led 6th until 7th, led 8th, headed after 4 out, weakened 2 out, 3rd and tired when pulled up before last, at Fontwell 3m 1f hcp (5) sft in Aug.
Nalim (IRE) 13-8fav (11-12) Reminder after 2nd, chased clear leader next, close up 5th, ridden to lead approaching 3 out, 5 lengths clear next, joined last, headed final 100 yards, no extra, 2nd of 4, 3l behind Flaming Thistle (11-5) at Hexham 3m 1f hcp (4) hvy in May.
Cara Court (IRE) 10-1 (10-0) Led, not fluent 4th, headed before blundered 3 out, soon beaten, 5th of 6, 13 3/4l behind Chankillo (10-10) at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp (5) gd in Oct.
