tracked leading trio, all but fell and unseated rider 9th
held up in touch, blundered when hampered and left in 3rd place at 9th, hit 3 out, pushed along and went 2nd 2 out, kept on same pace and no chance with winner
led until after 6th, chased winner, pushed along and no impression when lost 2nd 2 out, kept on same pace in 3rd
in touch, mistake 8th, left in modest 4th after 10th, never any chance with leading trio, tailed off
held up in rear, left in modest 4th place at 9th, slipped up after next
chased leading pair, hampered and lost place 9th, behind when jumped right next, blundered next, tailed off
held up, unseated rider 1st
took keen hold, tracked leader, led after 6th, pushed readily clear approaching 2 out, easily
This looks wide open. Keltus kept good company over hurdles in his first season and made a promising start over fences behind a subsequent winner at Newton Abbot. Monkey Kingdom probably came up against a decent novice at Chepstow but the third has let the form down since while The Bear Trap was beaten off today's mark at Ludlow. Garrahalish jumped well when scoring at Towcester but that's another race in which it's easy to knock the overall form. COCKTAILS AT DAWN was a fluent jumper of hurdles but has always looked a chaser in the making. He could be a bit better than a handicapper so is taken to make winning start over the larger obstacles, though Generous Ransom is also very much one to watch now going chasing.
Monkey Kingdom 10-3 (11-4) Tracked leaders, went 2nd from 2nd, not fluent 11th or 5 out, no impression on winner, stayed on, 2nd of 6, 7l behind Southfield Theatre (11-4) at Chepstow 2m 3f nov chs (2) gs in Oct.
Cocktails At Dawn 4-11fav (11-12) Took keen hold tracking leaders, mistake 5th, went 2nd next, hanging left when mistake 2 out, continued to hang left and trying to close when mistake last, weakened flat, 2nd of 6, 3 1/2l behind Fear Glic (11-9) at Chepstow 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-140 (3) gd in Apr.
Garrahalish (IRE) 9-4 (11-0) Jumped well, made all, ridden out, won at Towcester 2m nov chs (4) gf in Oct beating Knight Of Pleasure (11-0) by 4l, 5 ran.
Strollawaynow (IRE) 9-4 (11-7) Made most, headed briefly 5th, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, 7 lengths down in 4th when left 3rd next, no chance with front pair, 3rd of 8, 19l behind Saddlers Encore (11-7) at Exeter 2m 7f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Apr.
Generous Ransom (IRE) 17-2 (11-3) With leader, led narrowly 5th, hit next, not fluent 2 out, headed approaching last, no impression with front pair when hard pressed for 3rd flat, 3rd of 16, 6l behind Carlton Jack (10-11) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) gd in Apr.
Keltus (FR) 5-6fav (10-7) Jumped right, led, awkward landing 2nd, pushed along after 4 out, driven 2 out, headed before last, stayed on same pace and held flat, 2nd of 4, 2 1/4l behind Court Minstrel (11-4) at Newton Abbot 2m nov chs (4) gd in Sep.
The Bear Trap (IRE) 10-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders in 4th, went 3rd before 4 out, led 2 out, ridden before last, no extra and headed towards finish, 2nd of 5, 2 1/4l behind Bullet Street (11-4) at Ludlow 2m 4f nov hcap ch (3) gs in Oct.
The Clock Leary (IRE) 9-4fav (11-5) Chased leading pair, chased clear leader before 6th, pushed along after 4 out, ridden and lost 3rd 3 out, weakened before next, tailed off, 6th of 8, well behind Cawdor House Bert (10-11) at Ffos Las 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Mar.
