made virtually all, mistake 6th, ridden and edged left before 2 out and approaching last, hung left flat, driven out
chased leaders, went 2nd after 3 out, mistake 2 out, soon lost 2nd, no extra flat
held up in rear, steady headway before 8th, not much room when mistake 9th, one pace and beaten before 2 out
tracked leaders, lost place after 2nd, behind and ridden 3 out, stayed on from next, 3rd flat, no impression on leading pair
soon pressing winner, led briefly after 2nd, lost 2nd after 3 out, beaten when mistake next
jumped left at times, held up, mistake 2nd, headway 8th, 2nd after 3 out, tried to challenge winner flat, held towards finish
prominent, ridden 9th, soon lost place, well beaten before 2 out, plugged on flat
struggling in rear from 5th, driven and behind 9th
chased leaders, mistake and unseated rider 3 out
Winning point-to-pointer How's Vienna will probably do better over fences but Far From Defeat reverts to hurdles after a poor run of form over the bigger obstacles. Guiting Power showed some potential on good ground at Fontwell in November and though showing nothing in two subsequent starts was racing in softer conditions so has to be on the short-list. Fraser Canyon is the youngest in the line-up and open to improvement though this will be the longest trip he's tackled to date. YUR NEXT is the logical choice having run very well on her last four starts on this track, including when scoring over the trip last month. She's gone up 5lb for finishing second last time but is the only one arriving in form so has to be the selection.
Yur Next (IRE) 11-4fav (11-11) Chased leader, led 4th, clear 2 out, ridden and headed final 100 yards, no extra, 2nd of 12, 1 1/4l behind Peal Of Bells (11-5) at Taunton 3m hcp (5) gd in Dec.
Fraser Canyon 7-1 (12-0) In touch, ridden and headway 2 out, keeping on same pace when not fluent last, 6th of 12, 12 1/4l behind Amber Gambler (11-2) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (5) gs in Dec.
Far From Defeat (IRE) 15-2 (11-12) In rear, jumped right 1st, never dangerous, pulled up before last, at Leicester 2m 4f hcp (5) gd in Jan.
Beautiful People (FR) 25-1 (11-12) Always towards rear, never on terms, 10th of 12, dist behind Silver Streak (10-9) at Taunton 2m hcp (5) gd in Dec.
How's Vienna (IRE) 7-1 (11-3) Held up mid-division, headway to go 3rd before 3 out, one pace from next, 3rd of 8, 28l behind Tomahawk Wood (11-2) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp (5) hvy in Jan.
Avithos 200-1 (11-2) Jumped badly left, always in rear, tailed off, last of 6, dist behind Coillte Lass (11-2) at Taunton 2m lst (1) gd in Dec.
The Lion Man (IRE) 15-2 (10-8) Led after 1st, headed 6th, led before next, soon headed, weakened 3 out, pulled up before next, at Towcester 3m hcp (5) gs in Dec.
Guiting Power 4-1 (10-6) Towards rear, mistake 6th, headway before 8th, weakened 3 out, pulled up before next, at Towcester 3m hcp (5) gs in Dec.
Eddy 25-1 (10-5) Tracked leaders, not fluent 3 out, weakened before next, 10th of 18, 24 3/4l behind Amantius (11-8) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp (5) gs in Dec.
