in rear, never on terms
pushed along to track leaders, ridden over 4f out, weakened 3f out
led after 1f, headed 5f out, ridden and weakened over 2f out
close up, tracked leader over 4f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed approaching final furlong, kept on same pace
towards rear, ridden and headway approaching final furlong, stayed on to go 2nd inside final furlong, no threat to easy winner
led 1f, tracked leader, led again 5f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong
held up, ridden and some headway over 2f out, never near leaders
close up, switched right over 4f out, ridden over 2f out, kept on same pace
held up, took closer order 6f out, went 3rd over 3f out, led on bit approaching final furlong, soon clear, comfortable
Withdrawn
Gleese The Devil beat ALDRETH a neck at York last month, with Stormin Tom fourth, and is 2lb better off with the runner-up. However, he didn't sparkle on his only previous try on the all-weather and Mick Easterby's stayer deserves a change of luck. The latter is weighted to reverse recent Newcastle running with the hat-trick seeking Stamford Raffles so gets the nod. Velvet Revolution ran well over 1m6f at Nottingham but this trip may stretch his stamina while July's Sandown second Chartbreaker is making his all-weather debut. This may be too far for Plymouth Sound but Teak has stamina in abundance and is well treated nowadays, though has been badly out of sorts.
Gleese The Devil (IRE) 7-1 (9-13) In touch on outside, lost place 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 9th of 12, 14 1/4l behind Withhold (8-13) at Haydock 2m hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Chartbreaker (FR) 7-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, not fluent 7th, ridden and weakened before 3 out, last of 9, dist behind Parish Business (10-13) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp (3) gs in Oct.
Stormin Tom (IRE) 12-1 (9-1) Tracked leaders, 3rd and one pace over 1f out, no impression on front pair and lost 3rd inside final furlong, 4th of 11, 6l behind Gleese The Devil (9-0) at York 2m hcp stks (4) gd in Oct.
Yes Daddy (IRE) 8-1 (10-8) Tracked leader, led before 4 out, headed before last, kept on, 2nd of 5, 5l behind Valseur Du Granval (11-5) at Chepstow 2m hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Aldreth 8-1 (9-11) Keen, tracked leaders, dropped towards rear over 4f out, headway when not clear run and switched right entering final 2f, ridden to press winner inside final furlong, ran on, 2nd of 10, hd behind Stamford Raffles (9-3) at Newcastle 2m hcp (5) pol in Nov.
Teak (IRE) 13-2 (11-8) Held up, in last trio, reminders after 4 out, headway into modest 4th approaching 2 out, ridden and no impression between last two, 4th of 9, 5 3/4l behind Patsys Castle (11-8) at Newbury 3m hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Lord Napier (IRE) 33-1 (9-1) Held up towards rear, ridden over 2f out, soon headway, kept on to chase winner inside final furlong, no impression, 2nd of 13, 10l behind Marmelo (9-1) at Doncaster 1m 4f mdn stks (5) sft in Jul.
Stamford Raffles 7-2fav (9-3) Raced wide, close up, chased leader over 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, pressed inside final furlong, ran on gamely, won at Newcastle 2m hcp (5) pol in Nov beating Aldreth (9-11) by hd, 10 ran.
Velvet Revolution 7-2 (8-7) Held up towards rear, headway over 1f out, ran on, nearest finish, 4th of 11, 1 3/4l behind Pointel (9-3) at Nottingham 1m 6f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Plymouth Sound 33-1 (8-10) Mid-division on outside, driven to chase leaders 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace, weakened inside final furlong, 9th of 13, 8 1/4l behind Sixties Groove (9-4) at Kempton 1m 3f hcp (2) pol in Nov.
