held up in rear, closed on outside 9th, 3rd when not fluent 3 out, left with chance after 2 out, beaten from last, no extra towards finish
led, ridden 6 lengths clear when saddle slipped to the right and unseated rider 2 out
prominent, ridden after 11th, not fluent and lost 2nd 4 out, weakened before 2 out
prominent on outside, not fluent 2nd, lost place when jumped left next, one pace and no impression 3 out, kept on flat
held up, closed 4th, mistake 9th, 2nd after 4 out, 6 lengths down when left in lead and slightly hampered 2 out, not fluent and headed last, held flat, stayed on
prominent, lost place 6th, pushed along after 10th, outpaced next, rallied and left with chance from 2 out, led last, driven out
Hammersly Lake has been highly tried since winning in this grade at Market Rasen in August. He wasn’t beaten far behind stablemate Top Notch last time at Ascot and s similar effort here will see him go close, despite the penalty. MA DU FOU was never really travelling with any purpose when third last time at Bangor and needs to brush up his jumping. But the fourth in that race franked the form last week and he gets a tentative vote to come good today for an in-form stable. Querry Horse has a weight-for-age allowance and is no forlorn hope and Oliver Sherwood’s five-year-old is preferred to Winner Massagot, tailed off in both starts over fences so far, and Cyrius Moriviere, who fell here last month and then unseated his rider at the first at Ludlow. Lofgren didn’t really take a cut at his fences at Ludlow but will enjoy this ground and still has scope.
Hammersly Lake (FR) 10-3 (10-10) Held up last, not fluent 11th, closer order into 3rd 2 out, kept on well in closing stages, almost snatched 2nd, 3rd of 5, 1 1/4l behind Top Notch (11-3) at Ascot 2m 5f (2) gs in Dec.
Cyrius Moriviere (FR) 8-1 (11-0) Towards rear when jumped left and unseated rider 1st, at Ludlow 2m 4f (3) gs in Dec.
Lofgren 20-1 (11-9) Held up towards rear on outside, closed 2nd, lost place 4 out, well behind before 3 out, soon pulled up, 8th of 11, 35 1/2l behind Splash of Ginge (11-12) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Ma du Fou (FR) 2-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, ridden 11th, ever chance 2 out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 6, 5 1/2l behind Potters Legend (11-6) at Bangor 2m 4f (3) sft in Nov.
Winner Massagot (FR) 20-1 (11-0) Took keen hold, held up in 4th place, not fluent 1st, left modest 2nd and hampered 10th, mistake next, no chance with winner when mistake and lost 2nd 4 out, soon lost touch, tailed off when mistake last, 3rd of 5, dist behind Might Bite (11-0) at Doncaster 2m 3f (4) gd in Dec.
Querry Horse (FR) 10-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, outpaced 3 out, no chance with front trio from next, 4th of 7, 15 1/2l behind A Hare Breath (10-13) at Bangor 2m 1f (4) sft in Dec.
