led, not fluent 1st, jumped slowly next, headed approaching 4th, chased winner until 9th, chased leaders, weakened before 2 out,
tracked leaders, lost place 6th, pushed along and outpaced before 4 out, rallied next, went poor 4th 2 out
held up, fell 9th
tracked leaders, went 2nd 9th, pushed along and no chance with winner before 2 out, eased run-in
sweating, took keen hold, tracked leader, led approaching 4th, went right 4 out, and next, clear before 2 out, hit last, stayed on strongly, very easily
held up, blundered and pecked 8th, pushed along and no impression next, last and struggling when fell 2 out
held up, headway tracking leaders 4th until lost place and behind 7th, no chance after
chased leaders, pushed along before 4 out, ridden and plugged on same pace from next
Winning pointer and hurdler After Hours produced a much-improved effort when second at Exeter and will be fancied to go one better. Smoking Jacket won at Stratford in October but was taken off his feet by Sirabad at Wincanton subsequently. Very Live was third at Lingfield recently but this is a better race and Starkie still looks too high in the weights. CEPAGE won over hurdles and fences in France and Venetia Williams is expected to wrest further improvement out of the four-year-old, who could be well treated on his UK debut. Keep Moving, another French import, needs to improve on what he’s shown so far.
Starkie 5-1 (11-5) Pressed leader until 4th, ridden 8th, beaten when left 3rd briefly 3 out, soon weakened, 4th of 7, 23l behind Festive Affair (11-11) at Doncaster 2m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Strongly Suggested 16-1 (11-11) Towards rear, pushed along before 5 out, soon weakened, 6th of 9, dist behind Azert De Coeur (10-12) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Irish Thistle (IRE) 11-1 (11-9) Held up, mistake 6th, outpaced next, rallied briefly before 4 out, weakened next, 4th of 6, dist behind Notarfbad (11-7) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp (4) gd in Jul.
After Hours (IRE) 5-2jfav (11-1) Tracked leader, mistake 2nd, every chance 3 out, ridden after 2 out, kept on same pace, 2nd of 6, 3 1/4l behind Walk In The Mill (11-10) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Cepage (FR) (10-10) 4th of 9, 3 3/4l behind Chahuteur (11-0) at Auteuil 2m 1f sft in Jun.
Smoking Jacket (IRE) 11-4jfav (10-10) Chased leaders, ridden after 4 out, stayed on same pace from next, no impression on winner, 3rd of 8, 11l behind Sirabad (11-8) at Wincanton 2m hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Keep Moving (FR) 9-1 (11-5) Close up, led after 5th, headed before 5 out, weakened before 2 out, 5th of 9, 36 3/4l behind Azert De Coeur (10-12) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Very Live (FR) 7-1 (11-11) Held up in 5th, headway tracking leaders 4th, 3rd at 6th, 2nd next, pushed along approaching 3 out, lost 2nd close home, 3rd of 7, 2 1/4l behind Jaunty Inflight (11-10) at Lingfield 2m hcp (5) sft in Nov.
