in touch, outpaced after 4 out, ridden and kept on under pressure 2 out, no impression
held up, headway 6th, 2nd 4 out, ridden to lead before next, headed 2 out, soon no impression
held up in rear, steady headway 4 out, went 2nd next, led 2 out, soon clear, readily
mid-division, headway 4 out, soon ridden 5th and no impression when blundered 2 out
in touch, ridden 3 out, kept on same pace, no impression
always behind
in touch, outpaced 4 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace from next
chased leaders, lost place 4 out, weakened next
led, ridden and headed before 3 out, weakened next
mid-division, outpaced 4 out, weakened next
chased leader, lost place after 4 out, soon beaten
Nonrunner
Ajay is a tentative choice to get the better of Pagan Rules and Panthera Leo, who can make life difficult, while Jazrawy shaped with promise at Musslebrgh last month and can also go close if dishing out a repeat dose. The last named was hard to get right during his time on the Flat, though. And he is not one to trust implicitly. Panthera Leo ran well here in November but was disappointing at Ayr last time out. There was no obvious excuse for that run, so he arrives here with something to prove. Pagan Rules comfortably landed the odds in a conditional riders race a fortnight ago, so arrives here with his confidence on a high. This is an altogether tougher contest, though. And he will really need to be on his mettle to follow up. So slender preference is given to Ajay, who is fancied to be a different proposition now that he has the benefit of a couple of seasonal runs under his belt. Ferdy Murphy's gelding is also expected to appreciate the faster surface than he encountered at Ayr and just gets the nod in a really tricky finale.
Panthera Leo (IRE) 15-8 (10-12) Held up in touch, weakened 3 out, 5th of 10, 38l behind Viking Rebel (10-12) at Ayr 2m 4f nov hdl (4) sft in Nov.
Jazrawy 50-1 (10-12) Held up in touch, joined leaders 4 out, kept on same pace from next, 3rd of 7, 3 1/2l behind Checkerboard (10-12) at Musselburgh 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gd.
Ajay (IRE) 11-10fav (10-12) Chased leaders, pushed along to lead approaching 3 out, headed 2 out, no extra, 4th of 10, 11l behind Rodrigo Gonzales (10-12) at Ayr 2m 4f nov hdl (4) sft in Nov.
Onefourfun (IRE) 4-1 (11-9) Held up, headway 6th, chased winner approaching 3 out, weakened soon after, 7th of 14, 31l behind Tayman (10-6) at Folkestone 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf in Oct.
Khachaturian (IRE) 9-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened from next, 6th of 14, 14l behind All Noble (10-9) at Musselburgh 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gd in Nov.
Pagan Rules (IRE) 11-4fav (10-12) Led to before 3rd, tracked leaders, led again 3 out, clear when not fluent last, kept on, won at Sedgefield 2m 4f cnd nov hcp hdl (4) gs beating Esquillon (10-6) by 10l, 14 ran.
Malech (IRE) 16-1 (11-3) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 2 out, never able to challenge, 5th of 17, 11l behind Breaking Shadow (11-5) at Catterick 2m sll hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd.
Napalm (IRE) 6-1 (10-2) In touch, led 3 out, mistake and headed next, weakened flat, 9th of 13, 32l behind Chef de Cour (11-8) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Nov.
Present 6-1 (10-0) Mid-division, headway 3 out, soon ridden, kept on from 2 out, 3rd of 8, 5l behind Approved Force (10-12) at Leicester 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Seeking Straight (IRE) 100-1 (11-0) Mid-division, struggling from 4 out, 16th of 18, well behind Go Johnny (11-1) at Carlisle 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Nov.
Devilfishpoker Com 9-1 (11-4) Hampered and unseated rider at the 2nd in race won by Ful of Grace (10-5) at Ludlow 2m 3yo nov sll hdl (5) gd, 14 ran.
Charles Street 10-1 (10-0) In touch, pushed along 7th, ridden and mistake next, soon beaten, 8th of 14, 37l behind Mensio (10-3) at Kelso 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs.
Dream On Dreamers (IRE) 11-1 (10-4) Held up, weakened approaching 3 out, 9th of 14, 21l behind Smart Man (10-0) at Catterick 2m 3f amt hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf.
