in rear, weakening when fell 4 out
held up mid-division, headway to track leaders 9th, weakened from 2 out
held up towards rear, pushed along 15th, never dangerous
held up mid-division, chased leaders 14th, led after 5 out, ridden before last, kept on and headed towards finish
soon led, blundered 11th, headed 5 out, soon weakened
towards rear, headway before 4 out, ridden before 2 out, kept on same pace
towards rear, fell 4th
tracked leaders, went 2nd from 2 out, challenged last, kept on to lead towards finish
tracked leaders, led 5 out, soon headed, weakened from 2 out
led early, tracked leaders, lost place from 9th weakened from 12th, tailed off, pulled up
mid-division, headway from 5 out, ridden 3 out, one pace
always towards rear
Still Believing likes it around here though ran a shocker on the track last time. Moss On The Mill is the only other course and distance winner in the line-up and will have come on for last month's run in a better race than this at Haydock. Dueling Banjos made a promising comeback at Exeter and was in touch and going well when making a bad mistake at Cheltenham next time so he's greatly respected though AUDACIOUS PLAN has found his form since transferred to Richard Newlove. A winner over hurdles at Huntingdon, he followed up in a very touch handicap over fences at Sedgefield and though 5lb higher looks the one to beat. Better Days looks a danger as though it was only a Class 4 he won at Kempton he'd finished runner-up at this level at Cheltenham in the spring.
Dueling Banjos 5-1fav (11-9) Held up behind, headway 13th, mistake next (water), in touch on outside, soon chased winner, ridden and lost place last, weakened final 100 yards, 8th of 15, 7 1/2l behind What A Moment (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Moss On The Mill 16-1 (11-9) Mid-division early, soon dropped towards rear, in rear from 8th, outpaced from 5 out, 6th of 14, 23 1/4l behind Willoughby Hedge (11-10) at Haydock 3m hcp (2) gd in Apr.
Still Believing (IRE) 6-1 (11-11) Always behind, last of 7, dist behind Monbeg Charmer (11-8) at Ludlow 3m hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Relentless Dreamer (IRE) 25-1 (10-4) Always behind, pulled up after 4 out, at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp lst (1) sft in Nov.
Abracadabra Sivola (FR) 28-1 (11-12) In touch on outside, lost place 11th, soon behind, tailed off, 13th of 15, dist behind Harry The Viking (11-3) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Wicked Willy (IRE) 10-1 (11-5) In rear, headway and mistake 7 out, son weakened, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out, at Exeter 3m hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Mont Royale 50-1 (11-8) Always behind, tailed off when pulled up before last, at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Audacious Plan (IRE) 6-4fav (11-0) Prominent, led 3 out, ridden before last and not fluent, held on near finish, won at Sedgefield 3m 5f hcp (2) gd in Nov beating Boric (11-1) by nk, 13 ran.
According To Harry (IRE) 9-2 (11-8) Led, headed after 8th, still close enough in 4th 2 out, weakened before last, 5th of 6, 23 1/4l behind Paddy's Field (11-4) at Southwell 3m hcp (3) gd in Jun.
Caulfields Venture (IRE) 33-1 (11-12) Mid-division, headway 17th, 2nd before 4 out, about 5 lengths off leaders when fell 2 out, at Ludlow 3m 2f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Crystal Lad (FR) 7-1 (11-1) Mid-division, mistake 3rd, hit 7th, struggling 14th, ridden after 3 out, stayed on to dispute modest 3rd last, never near leaders, 5th of 11, 15 3/4l behind Jameson (11-4) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Better Days (IRE) 11-4jfav (11-11) In touch in 4th, headway and not fluent 4 out, challenged 2 out, led before last, kept on, won at Kempton 3m hcp (4) gd in Oct beating Heroes Or Ghosts (11-8) by 1 3/4l, 7 ran.
