mid-division, headway 5th, led approaching 3 out, headed 2 out, slightly hampered, switched right flat, no extra
in touch, headway after 6th, ridden 3 out, led 2 out, edged left, driven out
led 2nd, jumped slowly 5th, weakening when headed approaching 3 out
held up, keen, blundered 6th, ridden, headway approaching 3 out, soon fading
in touch, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, weakened flat
always in rear, tailed off from 3 out
led, headed 2nd, weakened 3 out
prominent, lost place after 3rd, ridden 5th, no impression
keen, headway approaching 3 out, driven to chase leaders, kept on one pace
in touch, weakened 3 out
mid-division, keen, lost place 4 out
towards rear, headway after 6th, weakened 3 out
tracked leaders, weakened after 6th, behind when pulled up before 3 out
A competitive finale can go the way of Cruchain; the list of dangers is headed by Edgeover and Beherayn. The selection is a lightly-raced 5-year-old and he showed his turn would not be far away over hurdles when he chased Procas De Thaix last time out. He is open to plenty of improvement and he should prove hard to beat. Edgeover finished in mid-division behind County Zen at Sandown last time but that was a fair effort and this less testing ground will suit. Beherayn was pulled-up at Newbury last time but he had run well previously and a reproduction of that effort would give him a chance. Jason Maguire will be hoping he can get a decent tune out of Max Bygraves but he has disappointed on each of his three starts to date and we will return to Cruchain as the one to beat.
Cruchain (IRE) 18-1 (10-12) With leader, led 3 out, driven and headed between last 2, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 7, 3l behind Procas de Thaix (10-12) at Kempton 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Edgeover 13-2 (11-0) Held up, headway approaching 2 out, weakened between last 2, 5th of 8, 7l behind County Zen (11-8) at Sandown 2m nh nov hdl (3) hvy in Dec.
Fairoak Haitch (IRE) 100-1 (11-0) Held up, headway after 3 out, weakened after next, 11th of 12, 29l behind Calgary Bay (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f nh nov hdl (2) gd in Dec.
High Standard (NZ) 33-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, driven to challenge after 3 out, weakened next, 5th of 15, 40l behind Bennynthejets (10-11) at Catterick 2m 3f mdn hdl (5) gd in Dec.
Island Flyer (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) Soon prominent, went 2nd 6th to 8th, blundered 3 out, soon weakened and pulled up 2 out in race won by Oniphlaure (11-0) at Warwick 2m 5f mdn hdl (4) sft in Dec, 14 ran.
Li Lo Bosh (IRE) 200-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, never dangerous, 12th of 16, well behind One Gulp (11-1) at Leicester 2m 4f nov hdl (3) sft in Dec.
Max Bygraves 200-1 (11-0) Mid-division until 5th, soon behind, 13th of 18, well behind Khyber Kim (11-0) at Newbury 2m hdl (2) sft in Dec.
No More Tom (IRE) 50-1 (10-12) Chased leaders early, behind from 5th, 12th of 14, well behind I Have Dreamed (10-12) at Taunton 2m 1f nov hdl (3) gd in Dec.
Pistolet Dove (IRE) 7-1 (10-12) Raced keenly, held up, pushed along when hampered 6th, no progress, 8th of 10, 30l behind Nez Rouge (10-7) at Bangor 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Red O'Donnell (IRE) 50-1 (11-6) Held up, mid-division until lost place 4th, 6th of 13, 31l behind Domino Dancer (10-7) at Catterick 2m mdn hdl (4) gd in Dec.
Reynards Return (IRE) 66-1 (10-3) Prominent, ridden and weakened 5f out, tailed off, 12th of 14, well behind Danny Zuko (10-10) at Uttoxeter 2m nhf (6) gs in May.
Ring Bo Ree (IRE) Topanoora gelding, half-brother to winning bumper The Gallop Master.
Santinho (IRE) 10-1 (11-0) Always in the rear, 11th of 15, 37l behind Khumbu (11-3) at Hereford 2m 1f mdn nhf (6) gf in Jun.
Beherayn 15-2 (11-0) Not fluent, always behind, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Helens Vision (10-4) at Newbury 2m nov hdl (3) gs in Dec, 16 ran.
