chased leaders, outpaced 5th, weakened 4 out, tailed off
chased winner to 5th, soon struggling, weakened 3 out, tailed off
held up behind, headway 5th, went 2nd after 3 out, closed on winner between last 2, soon ridden, 3 lengths down when hit last, stayed on well under pressure to challenge flat, just held
mid-division, headway on outside to chase winner 5th until after 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off
in touch, pushed along after 3rd, outpaced 4 out, went moderate 3rd after next, no chance with leading pair
towards rear, outpaced 4 out, never near leaders
made all, tended to jump left, clear after 4th, ridden and reduced lead between last 2, hard pressed flat, kept on under pressure, just held on
mid-division on inside, lost place 6th, soon weakened, tailed off
held up in rear, some headway into mid-division 6th, weakened after 3 out, tailed off
in touch, lost place before 5th, tailed off 3 out, soon pulled up
mid-division, droped to rear and reminders 3rd, tailed off 5th, soon pulled up
mid-division, weakened 6th, soon tailed off, pulled up before last
The Gripper left previous form behind when second to Monsieur Cadou at Hereford so the performance of the latter in the opener should be a good guide to his chances of going one better here. But we prefer the claims of BEAU LAKE, whose two runs this season have been against decent opposition - Suzy Smith's charge would go very close if reproducing the form of his second over this trip at Newbury in March. Mauritino disappointed when favourite at Plumpton last time but is probably capable of better and preferred to stablemate Not A Bob and Eastwell Smiles, who has been absent from the track since finishing down the field on the Flat in August and is 9lb higher than when scoring at Bangor a month earlier.
Moscow Mischief 14-1 (11-0) Led, headed after 3rd, led again approaching 4th, ridden and headed last, rallied to lead run-in, kept on gamely, won at Kelso 2m mdn hdl (4) gs in Nov beating Sara's Smile (11-0) by 1/2l, 14 ran.
Beau Lake (IRE) 25-1 (10-10) In touch, outpaced after 4 out, weakened next, 8th of 16, 47l behind Full Of Joy (10-12) at Newbury 2m 5f nov hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Nov.
Richmond (FR) 50-1 (10-12) Mid-division, outpaced when hampered by loose horse 2 out, never on terms, 5th of 16, 31l behind Prince Of Pirates (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 1f NH nov hdl 4-6yo (3) gd.
Mauritino (GER) 10-3fav (11-4) Held up in touch, under pressure 3 out, soon no impression, 6th of 11, 19l behind Swiss Art (11-8) at Plumpton 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs.
The Gripper (IRE) 80-1 (10-12) Prominent on outside, led and not fluent 2 out, headed approaching last, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 14, 4l behind Monsieur Cadou (11-7) at Hereford 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs in Nov.
Not A Bob (IRE) 20-1 (11-6) Held up towards rear, not fluent 3rd, headway approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 12, 30l behind Babilu (11-8) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp hdl 0-95 (5) hvy in Oct.
Eastwell Smiles 11-4fav (11-10) Made all, clear from 2nd, hit 5th and 3 out, driven before last, stayed on strongly, unchallenged, won at Bangor 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-85 (5) sft in Jul beating Magical Island (11-7) by 5l, 12 ran.
No Woman No Cry 33-1 (10-12) In touch, weakened soon after 3 out, tailed off, 7th of 9, well behind Cotswold Charmer (10-9) at Warwick 3m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Nov.
Le Roi Max (FR) 10-1 (11-0) Ld until narrowly headed 3rd, chased leader until before 3 out, where mistake and weakened, 8th of 10, 22l behind Marino Prince (11-6) at Kempton 2m cond nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Nov.
Wham Bang 20-1 (10-11) Fell 2nd, in a race won by Baren De Doc (11-0) at Towcester 2m 6f beg chase (4) gd in May, 7 ran.
Dareios (GER) 100-1 (10-12) Held up in touch, ridden after 6th, weakened approaching 3 out, 7th of 11, 38l behind Mossley (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Midnight Trix 80-1 (10-5) Held up towards rear, ridden in 7th and lost touch approaching 8th, tailed off, 7th of 10, well behind Front Of House (11-5) at Southwell 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Nov.
