in touch, headway 4 out, every chance next, led before 2 out, strongly challenged towards finish, just held on
tracked leaders, weakened halfway, soon behind, pulled up after 5 out
chased leaders, ridden 3 out, soon weakened and pulled up
prominent, led 3rd, headed 7th, no extra after 3 out
always behind, beaten 5 out, soon pulled up
mid-division, weakened 6 out, pulled up after 5 out
mid-division, under pressure 5 out, soon beaten
in rear, headway 6 out, weakened after 4 out, pulled up before 3 out
held up in rear, headway halfway, weakened 4 out
held up, never dangerous
led until 3rd, remained prominent, every chance 3 out, no extra last
chased leaders, led 7th, headed before 2 out, soon rallied, ran on strongly towards finish, never reached winner
mid-division, headway 3 out, stayed on into 4th, never on terms
held up towards rear, outpaced 5 out, soon beaten, pulled up soon after 2 out
CRACKING DESTINY had already won twice this year before returning to action with a wide-margin success over these fences on his debut for Alistair Whillans’ yard. He’s taken to continue progressing despite a hike in the weights and is preferred to another easy winner in Nuts Well. The latter is also 10lb higher today after scoring over a shorter trip at Wetherby while As You Like will find this easier than his latest task at Newbury. Fixed Rate ran well at Aintree on his reappearance while Copper West ran below par in soft going last time but today’s ground will suit better and he’s another with a shout in an open affair.
Nuts Well 9-4fav (11-2) Tracked leader, led 3 out, clear approaching last, ran on strongly, won at Wetherby 1m 7f hcp (3) sft in Dec beating Ain't My Fault (10-4) by 15l, 5 ran.
Indian Temple (IRE) 40-1 (11-9) Prominent until 4th, chased leaders, lost place from 9th, well beaten 4 out, 8th of 10, dist behind Riders Onthe Storm (11-5) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Fixed Rate 16-1 (11-12) Led, clear briefly between from after 3 out until 2 out, headed before last, held flat, kept on, 2nd of 10, 3 1/4l behind Sammy Bill (11-1) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Western Miller (IRE) 66-1 (11-1) In touch in mid-division, not fluent 2nd, hit 7th, lost place before 4 out, 8th of 14, 26 3/4l behind Magic Saint (11-9) at Newbury 2m hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Get Out The Gate (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Mid-division, beaten 4 out, 9th of 14, dist behind Casablanca Mix (11-6) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp lst (1) gs in Jul.
Amalfi Doug (FR) 14-1 (11-3) Chased leaders to after 10th, behind from 12th, tailed off when pulled up before 14th, at Haydock 3m 2f hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Copper West (IRE) 14-1 (10-10) Held up towards rear, ridden 9th, never involved, plugged on flat, 5th of 10, 23 1/4l behind Riders Onthe Storm (11-5) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Dimple (FR) 18-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, led 5th, headed after 7th, led 11th, headed after next, weakened before mistake 4 out, soon pulled up, at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Oct.
As You Like (IRE) 9-1 (10-10) Towards rear, headway approaching 4 out, plugged on from next, went 3rd run-in, 3rd of 16, 10 1/2l behind Bennys King (11-1) at Newbury 2m 6f hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Lake Takapuna (IRE) 7-2 (11-3) Towards rear, niggled along after 4 out, progress before 3 out, no impression before 2 out, weakened after last, never a factor, 6th of 13, dist behind All The Answers (11-6) at Galway 2m 2f hcp sft in Aug.
Cool Mix 18-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, pushed along and outpaced before 3 out, no chance after, 5th of 8, 21l behind Sakhee's City (11-8) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Cracking Destiny (IRE) 13-2 (11-12) Tracked leaders, led approaching 4 out, clear 2 out, ran on, won at Musselburgh 2m hcp (4) gs in Nov beating Sporting Press (11-10) by 10l, 8 ran.
Murphy's Law (IRE) 10-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 4 out to next, one pace after 2 out, soon weakened and fell last, at Newcastle 2m 7f hcp (3) hvy in Nov.
Sporting Press (IRE) 2-1 (11-10) Headway on outside to lead 1st, jumped left on occasions, headed before 4 out, chased winner, ridden and well held next, 2nd of 6, 14l behind Defi Sacre (11-8) at Musselburgh 2m hcp (4) gs in Dec.
