tracked leaders, led approaching last, driven out
in touch, led approaching 2 out, headed approaching last, soon weakened
held up and keen, never dangerous, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, ridden approaching 2 out, one pace
tracked leaders, ridden approaching 2 out, soon weakened
held up, headway 6th, weakening when mistake 2 out
held up mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, mistake next, every chance last, held towards finish
held up behind, never dangerous, tailed off when pulled up before last
always behind, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened, fell next
led and soon clear, blundered 3 out, soon headed and weakened, pulled up before next, tailed off
tracked clear leader until after 4th, quickly weakened, tailed off
held up, headway 6th, weakened 2 out
A large field goes to post for the finale but on closer inspection not many can be given a serious chance of winning and the pricipals look to be Corran Ard, Thunder Rock and Cordier with the confident vote going to Corran Ard. The selection was a good second on his debut behind the highly regarded Ouninpohja, is sure to have come on for the run and given nominal improvement he need only run up to that mark to win with plenty in hand. Thunder Rock rates the main danger as he was a fair sort on the flat and is sure to have been well schooled for this his hurdling debut but stamina has to be a doubt and he is taken on with this in mind.Cordier is another that could go well on his latest second behind Eleazar but this looks tougher. Of the remainder Just Jaffa is another from a yard in form but his future may lie in handicaps and with this in mind for the winner we return to Corran Ard who looks sure to improve and is impossible to oppose.
Cordier 40-1 (10-12) Chased clear leader, left in lead 3 out, headed towards finished, one pace, 2nd of 19, 2l behind Eleazar (10-12) at Haydock 2m nov hdl (4) gd in Nov.
Corran Ard (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Prominent, led approaching 2 out, headed soon after last, not pace of winner, 2nd of 14, 1l behind Ouninpohja (11-0) at Taunton 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) gd in Nov.
Just Jaffa (IRE) 50-1 (10-12) Held up mid-division, headway approaching 2 out, one pace, 4th of 11, 10l behind Blythe Knight (10-12) at Bangor 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gd in Nov.
Kingdom of Dreams (IRE) 14-1 (9-11) Always rear, ridden over 3f out, soon beaten, last of 11, 8l behind Ninth House (9-13) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-90 (3) pol in Aug (Flat).
No Greater Love (FR) 11-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, ridden and one pace from 3 out, 3rd of 20, 27l behind Springvic (10-12) at Wetherby 2m nov hdl (4) sft in Nov.
Slavedriver 40-1 (10-12) Towards rear when fell in race won by Thirty Five Black (10-12) at Exeter 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) sft, 18 ran.
Sonny Parkin 16-1 (9-1) Slowly into stride, always in rear, 11th of 12, 37l behind High Command (9-5) at Yarmouth 1m 2f hcp 0-90 (3) gf in Sept (Flat).
Thunder Rock (IRE) 6-1 (8-10) In touch, ridden to challenge over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 13, 11l behind Counterpunch (8-7) at Newmarket 1m 4f hcp 0-100 (2) gs in Oct (Flat).
