always towards rear, well behind when jumped right 3 out, tailed off
led to 2nd, remained prominent, pushed along approaching 6th, weakened after 3 out
raced wide, chased leaders, led 3 out, came clear after 2 out, easily
took keen hold in mid-division, weakened before 3 out
reluctant to line up, led 2nd, mistake and headed 6th, chased leaders until after 3 out, plugged on
always towards rear, tailed off before 3 out
chased leaders, went 2nd 5th, chased winner 3 out, rallied to 2nd approaching last, no chance with easy winner
close up, went 2nd 3rd, led 5th to 3 out, weakened quickly soon after, tailed off
held up in rear, ridden and struggling before 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before next
held up towards rear, steady headway before 6th, chased leading pair 3 out, chased winner 2 out until no impression before last
held up towards rear, fell 2nd
mid-division, weakened before 3 out, tailed off
held up in rear, 6th and no chance when mistake 2 out
NOVIKOV hasn't always been the most reliable but it was hard not to be impressed with his win at Kempton so he's taken to follow up. Spent and Qozak are two of several interesting opponents. The selection was a fair but frustrating performer on the level for John Gosden before joining Gary Moore. He was claimed out of that yard in December and landed a selling hurdle on his first outing for these connections. The form of his win at Kempton is far in excess of that and he could be hard to beat if turning up in the same form. Spent hails from a yard that is in good form at present and he ran his best race to date on his latest start at Ffos Las. He looks fairly handicapped so could be a major player if finding further improvement for the switch to handicapping. Qozak takes up this entry rather than one in a valuable handicap at Ascot at the weekend and is interesting. He has, not surprisingly, been described as a chaser in the making but he may have a little scope from his present mark before his attention is switched. Tender Falcon has each-way claims on the evidence of his latest run, Thumbs Up isn't dismissed out of hand and nor is Chaninbar who landed a bit of a touch here last time whilst Benfleet Boy has claims on the pick of his form. Cranky Corner and Lucciolina are two to monitor in the market but Novikov appeared to have something up his sleeve at Kempton and could have their measure.
Tender Falcon 25-1 (10-13) Held up in touch, mistake and fell 3 out, in a race won by Zabeel Palace (10-3) at Ascot 2m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Nov, 12 ran.
Nortonthorpe Lad (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, challenged 10th, outpaced 4 out, soon lost place, outpaced when pecked next, soon weakened, 4th of 5, well behind Minella Theatre (11-1) at Hereford 2m 5f nov chs (3) gs in Nov.
Qozak (FR) 10-3 (10-13) Tracked leaders, raced keenly, challenged going well from 3 out, no extra flat, 4th of 21, 5l behind Culcabock (11-0) at Aintree 2m cond hcp hdl 4yo+ (2) gs in Apr.
Thumbs Up 12-1 (10-12) Tracked leader, pushed along approaching 3 out, soon lost place, last of 4, 19l behind Mr Thriller (11-2) at Haydock 2m 4yo hdl (2) sft in Nov.
Chaninbar (FR) 9-1 (11-11) Led until after 2nd, chased leader, ridden to lead narrowly well before last, hit last, pressed soon after, ridden and stayed on well to assert final 110 yards, won at Taunton 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in Dec beating Karky Schultz (11-3) by 2 1/2l, 14 ran.
Oddshoes (IRE) 7-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, went right 4 out, weakened before 2 out, 13th of 14, 31l behind Ronaldo Des Mottes (11-10) at Kempton 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Dec.
Benfleet Boy 16-1 (11-4) Held up rear of midfield, pushed along and headway on outside before 2 out, one pace and no impression soon after, 5th of 14, 12l behind Ronaldo Des Mottes (11-10) at Kempton 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Dec.
Spent 66-1 (10-12) Tracked leader, led 4th, mistake and headed 2 out, chased winner after but no impression from last, 2nd of 16, 2 1/2l behind On Borrowed Wings (11-5) at Ffos Las 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Dec.
Cranky Corner 7-2 (11-5) Held up in rear, one pace in 5th, approaching last when fell, in a race won by Kerada (10-5) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Dec, 16 ran.
Novikov 9-2 (10-0) Raced on inside, held up in rear of main group in 7th, smooth headway going well before 2 out, soon challenging, led last, quickened and ridden clear, won at Kempton 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft beating William Hogarth (11-6) by 2l, 8 ran.
Right Stuff (FR) 10-1 (10-6) Pulled hard, chased leaders, hit 3rd and 4 out, still pulling behind leaders when not fluent 3 out, ridden and weakened before 2 out, blundered last, 11th of 14, 29l behind Ronaldo Des Mottes (11-10) at Kempton 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Dec.
Lucciolina 14-1 (10-3) Held up towards rear, headway 7th, soon well in touch until ridden and weakened before 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by A French Horse (10-12) at Warwick 2m 5f nov hdl (4) gd in Nov, 16 ran.
Elite Land 13-2 (10-0) Held up in rear, headway approaching 4 out, led 2 out, headed last, weakened flat, 4th of 8, 7l behind Le Roi Rouge (11-3) at Wetherby 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in Dec.
