always prominent, led after 3 out, ridden and headed next, edged right approaching last, still every chance flat, held close home
always prominent, mistake 6th, led when not fluent 2 out, edged right approaching last, driven out
took keen hold, held up in rear, mistake 6th, headway when not fluent 8th, weakened approaching 3 out
took keen hold, led, jumped right 4th, not fluent 8th, headed after 3 out, weakened before next
held up, not fluent, mistake 2nd, ridden approaching 7th, behind next
held up, mistake 5th, weakened 8th, tailed off
held up, headway approaching 7th, ridden after next, went 3rd 2 out, no chance with front pair
held up, mistake 2nd, headway 5th, pushed along and lost place after 6th, behind from next, tailed off
Emma Lavelle has won two of the last three runnings and HIGHLAND LODGE makes plenty of appeal here. He beat subsequent winner Diocles by six lengths at Haydock last month to remain unbeaten and can land this with further progress expected. Cotton Mill won't be a pushover, however, as he's also on an upward curve having followed up his Hereford win with a easy victory at Fakenham last time, while Ambion Wood got his act together at Chepstow last month and third-placed Simply Ben has gone in since. Jumps Road still has a bit to find despite his recent win at Ffos Las but is still preferred to Castle Conflict.
Ambion Wood (IRE) 7-4fav (11-0) Always prominent, not fluent 2nd, led approaching last, very easily, won at Chepstow 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) hvy in Dec beating Nutin Fancy (11-0) by 4 1/2l, 10 ran.
Cotton Mill 1-4fav (11-0) Keen prominent, led 8th, hit next, clear 2 out, ran on, comfortable, won at Fakenham 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Dec beating Sublime Talent (11-12) by 22l, 7 ran.
Fintan 7-2 (11-5) Raced keenly in touch, headway to lead after 2nd, hard pressed 2 out, ridden and headed when hit last, no impression flat, 3rd of 7, 9l behind Bowntobebad (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Highland Lodge (IRE) 8-11fav (11-5) Took keen hold early stages, led until ran wide on paddock bend after next, stayed close 2nd until bumped and led again 4th, driven and stayed on gamely flat, won at Haydock 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Dec beating Diocles (10-12) by 6l, 9 ran.
Jumps Road 8-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, headway 4th, led after 3 out, jumped left last, kept on, driven out, won at Ffos Las 2m nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Dec beating Ashbrittle (10-12) by 1l, 12 ran.
Layla's Dancer 13-2 (11-4) In touch in mid-division, headway 6th, close 5th when stumbled and fell just after 3 out, in a race won by Grandads Horse (11-5) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gf in Sep, 10 ran.
Same Difference (IRE) 16-1 (11-5) Prominent, jumped slowly 3rd, ridden and hanging left 3 out, mistake and well held 2 out, 4th of 14, 20l behind Broadbackbob (11-5) at Newbury 2m 3f NH nov hdl 4-6yo (4) sft in Dec.
Castle Conflict (IRE) 2-5fav (11-5) Made all, ridden after 2 out, clear last, stayed on well, won at Hereford 2m 1f NH mdn hdl (5) sft beating Pampanito (11-5) by 5l, 13 ran.
