led, ridden and headed 2 out, no impression in clear 2nd from last
held up behind, headway into mid-division 7th, fell 5 out
tracked leaders, went 2nd 3 out, led next, clear last, kept on
held up mid-division, tracked leaders 3 out, driven to chase clear pair before next, never on terms, lost modest 3rd after last
mid-division, driven to chase leaders 3 out, ridden and weakened after next
held up in rear, mistake and rider lost iron briefly 4th, tailed off 5 out, pulled up after 3 out
chased leaders on outer, lost place 5th, soon behind, tailed off 5 out, pulled up before 2 out
tracked leader, lost place 4 out, weakened next, tailed off
tracked leaders from 3rd, ridden after 3 out, weakened next
tracked leaders, outpaced 4 out, ridden after 2 out, stayed to take modest 3rd after last, no chance with front pair
Midnight Shot failed to cope with his latest rise in the weights when well beaten at Cheltenham last month and it remains to be seen how well Another Bill and Vinegar Hill cope upped in class off higher marks as they bid to continue winning runs. Lower Hope Dandy is usually thereabouts without winning and it was business as usual when second on his reappearance while Scoop The Pot has lost the plot this year though is capable in this grade if back to his best. But DESERT CRY finally showed some improvement for a tumble down the weights when runner-up at Haydock last time and Donald McCain’s charge should make another bold bid off his current mark.
Midnight Shot 6-1jfav (11-3) Led until soon after 3 out, weakened quickly, 11th of 16, dist behind Clondaw Cian (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Another Bill (IRE) 5-6fav (11-12) Held up in touch, went 2nd before 2 out, led before last, kept on well, won at Kelso 2m 7f (4) gs in Nov beating Tree Of Liberty (10-12) by 10l, 10 ran.
Desert Cry (IRE) 16-1 (11-5) Towards rear, headway after 4 out, soon in 4th place, kept on to take 2nd place towards finish, no chance with winner, 2nd of 10, 2 1/2l behind Ami Desbois (11-8) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Ganbei 8-1 (11-12) Held up in mid-division, jumped right and not fluent 1st, headway after 8th, challenged 4 out, led before 3 out, headed approaching next, soon no extra, 4th of 14, 31 1/4l behind Veneaux Du Cochet (10-13) at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp (3) gf in Jul.
Scoop The Pot (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) Held up in mid-division, fell 3rd, at Aintree 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Kublai (FR) 50-1 (10-8) Held up in rear, lost touch when went right 10th, pulled up soon after, at Fontwell 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Barafundle (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Led to 4th, reminders before 8th, soon lost place, tailed off and pulled up before 5 out, at Haydock 3m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Nov.
Lower Hope Dandy 7-2 (10-12) Tracked winner, every chance when not fluent 3 out, no impression from next, plugged on flat, 2nd of 5, 5l behind Cloudy Too (11-1) at Uttoxeter 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Vinegar Hill 9-2 (11-7) Tracked leader, led approaching 3 out, clear before hit 2 out, hit last, driven clear, won at Kempton 3m hcp (4) sft in Nov beating Jennys Day (11-12) by 3l, 8 ran.
Cadeau George 16-1 (10-9) Led early, prominent, led 2nd until not fluent 5th, ridden after 14th, mistake next, outpaced 17th, behind when pulled up before 3 out, at Uttoxeter 4m 1f hcp lst (1) sft in Mar.
