tracked leaders, lost place and pushed along after 2nd, went 3rd and closed after 3 out, 3 lenghts down last, stayed on under pressure to lead close home
led, soon racing freely, clear 2nd until reminders and hung left approaching 6th, not fluent and headed 3 out, stopped quickly and soon pulled up
took keen hold, tracked leaders, pecked 2nd, last from 5th, soon well behind and pulled up
held up, went 3rd from 4th, went 2nd after 3 out, soon ridden, challenged 2 out, hung right flat, stayed on same pace
tracked leader who went clear 2nd until before 6th, led 3 out, soon ridden, hung right flat, headed close home
Taunton winner Guns Of Love finished a well-beaten fourth off his new mark at Leicester earlier this month and has something to prove here. Despite receiving 17lb, he may struggle to beat DESPERATE DEX. Ferdy Murphy's charge was pulled up over 2m4f at Haydock back in October but is probably better over this trip nowadays and did score over C&D last season. Tony Kelly's 10lb should make his burden manageable and he looks the one to beat with both Jumpjack Flint and Aboukir Bay out of sorts and Kirbys Glen returning from a lay-off.
Desperate Dex (IRE) 5-1 (10-8) Held up towards rear, headway on inside when mistake 7th, jumped left 9th, weakened after 11th, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Deuteronomy (10-4) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Oct, 12 ran.
Jumpjack Flint 12-1 (10-12) Pulled hard in rear, rapid headway to chase leaders before 3rd, hit next, stayed well there until weakened rapidly soon after 3 out, tailed off, 14th of 16, well behind High Benefit (10-5) at Warwick 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Aboukir Bay (IRE) 40-1 (10-5) Held up behind, took closer order 4th, lost place before 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off, last of 8, well behind Smokey George (10-13) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft.
Kirbys Glen (IRE) 20-1 (10-7) Held up in touch, headway to track leader 8th, led approaching 4 out, headed next, no impression on winner when lost 2nd and weakened flat, 4th of 9, 12l behind Foreign King (11-7) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gf in May.
Guns of Love (IRE) 15-2 (11-2) Tracked leaders on outside, led 3rd, ridden and hard pressed approaching 2 out, headed between last 2, weakened flat, 4th of 10, 18l behind Autumn Red (11-12) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-90 (5) gd.
