held up in rear, bumped 1st, mistake next and 11th, headway after 14th, not fluent 4 out, weakened before last
led until 2nd, prominent, pushed along after 14th, every chance 4 out, weakened 3 out, mistake 2 out
bumped 1st, always behind
mid-division on outside, closed 5th, lost place 12th, well beaten after 14th, pulled up before 4 out
prominent, led 2nd, mistake 3 out, headed before last, stayed on same pace flat
held up towards rear, headway 4 out, no impression and held last, one pace
prominent, challenged 4 out, not fluent 2 out, no impression on winner flat, kept on
held up in touch, closed 4 out, close 3rd 2 out, held last, one pace
tracked leaders, lost place before 9th, headway next, led before last, stayed on, ridden out
Bandsman has become expensive to follow and Station Master was out on his feet when refusing at the last at Carlisle last month so also has questions to answer. Cage Of Fear was let down by his jumping at Carlisle after making a winning debut over fences at Perth and the likes of Big Difference and Well Smitten may have preferred better ground. It’s while since Poker School got his head in front but he’s 5lb lower now so could be interesting. Boughtbeforelunch was second under Jack savage at Cheltenham but doesn’t look an easy ride. WAKIKI WAVES should be approaching peak fitness after a couple of outings and is a past winner here. He’s slipped back to a fair mark and gets a tentative vote.
Cage Of Fear (IRE) 11-4fav (10-13) Held up in mid-division on inside, closed 5th, mistake and lost place 10th, well beaten from 3 out, 8th of 11, dist behind Court Dreaming (10-11) at Carlisle 3m hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Station Master (IRE) 9-4fav (11-8) Prominent early, disputing lead until jumped to front 7th, lost lead 4 out, weakened, clear second when refused last, at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp (3) gs in Oct.
Poker School (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) Held up, headway to chase leader 12th until ridden approaching 2 out, weakened next, 6th of 8, 22 1/4l behind Pontresina (11-11) at Kempton 3m hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Bandsman 13-2 (11-12) Just worse than mid-division, wide and making headway 4 out, staying on 3 out, disputing fourth 2 out, stayed on without troubling leaders, 4th of 12, 11 1/2l behind Tanarpino (12-0) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Oct.
Boughtbeforelunch (IRE) 9-1 (11-2) Pressed leader, ridden to lead before 2 out, veered right and weakened after last, kept on to hold on for 2nd flat, 2nd of 13, 6 1/2l behind Bermeo (10-5) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (3) gs in Oct.
Well Smitten (IRE) 12-1 (11-4) Midfield, lost ground 8th, hampered by faller 9th, in rear and ridden before 4 out, one pace from 3 out, 6th of 11, 28 1/4l behind Minella For Me (11-7) at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp (3) sft in Oct.
Big Difference (IRE) 10-1 (11-1) Midfield, took closer order 13th, made headway to challenge 3 out, ridden after 2 out, hit last, kept on flat, 2nd of 11, 1 1/4l behind From The Heart (11-1) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp (4) gf in Oct.
Oscar Wilde (IRE) 10-1 (11-9) Raced centre pack, outpaced from halfway, never involved, 9th of 12, dist behind Tanarpino (12-0) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Oct.
Waikiki Waves (FR) 4-1 (11-12) Towards rear, headed after 7th and sat last, mistake 10th, niggled along 3 out, kept on at one pace after last, 4th of 10, 13 3/4l behind Mine's A Pint (11-11) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp (4) sft in Oct.
