held up towards rear, not fluent 5th, headway to chase leaders 3 out, went 3rd approaching 2 out, no impression when lost 3rd soon after last, weakened soon after
always behind, tailed off
chased leaders, ridden and weakened soon after 3 out, tailed off
chased winner until ridden after 3 out, weakened before next, tailed off
held up in mid-division, headway approaching 4 out, chased leaders and hit next, kept on same pace from 2 out
close up, headway to chase leaders 7th, went 2nd after 3 out, no chance with winner, stayed on to hold 2nd
always about same place in mid-division, pushed along and stayed on same pace from 3 out
towards rear, headway to mid-division 7th, weakened from 3 out, tailed off
chased leaders until weakened rapidly after 7th, behind and pulled up before next
held up towards rear, headway to mid-division 7th, ridden and stayed on same pace approaching 2 out
in rear, reminders after 7th, tailed off
made all, stayed on strongly from 2 out, unchallenged
chased leaders, slow 5th, weakened 7th, behind and pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, hit 4 out, weakened sooon after, behind and pulled up before 2 out
held up towards rear, headway from 3 out, chased leaders approaching next, driven between last 2, went 3rd flat, kept on but never able to challenge
in rear and struggling when unseated rider 3rd
Brick Red was bang in contention at Cheltenham on his reappearance until lack of condition told. He could figure here, despite his big weight, while Compton Blue arrives off the back of a hard-fought win at Huntingdon and Thoresby kept on well to score over a longer trip at Towcester. Ivor's King is on a hat-trick after victories at Exeter and Wincanton but Oscar's Secret, runner-up at the latter track, could reverse the form here on better terms. RESTE GOSSE is lightly-raced and looks certain to improve on his maiden win at Worcester in May. He gets a tentative vote here though Greenlaw, Otto The Great and the race-fit Nazreef are also worth a second look if the market speaks in their favour.
Brick Red 17-2 (10-7) Tracked leaders, hit 5th, every chance 2 out, 4th last, no extra final 150 yards, 7th of 22, 15l behind Dark Lover (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (3) gs in Oct.
Judge Davis 9-2 (10-11) In rear, headway before 8th, soon chased leaders, weakened 2 out, in 4th when fell last, in a race won by Provo (11-0) at Wincanton 2m 6f mdn hdl (4) gs in Oct, 10 ran.
Reste Gosse (FR) 3-1 (11-0) In touch, headway to track leading pair 4 out, lead after 2 out, stayed on flat, won at Worcester 2m 4f NH mdn hdl (4) gd in May beating Tornado In Milan (11-0) by 5l, 10 ran.
Violets Boy (IRE) 16-1 (11-1) Tracked leader, bad mistake and unseated rider 6th, in a race won by Tony Star (11-12) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Oct, 8 ran.
Greenlaw 8-13fav (10-12) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 4th, challenged 7th, led after 3 out, headed when mistake next, hard ridden to lead again post, won at Towcester 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Jun beating Soundbyte (10-12) by shd, 4 ran.
Otto The Great (FR) 5-4fav (10-7) Mid-division, headway 6th, close 3rd 2 out, soon ridden and no impression, weakened flat, 4th of 13, 13l behind Coronea Lilly (10-5) at Ludlow 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gd in May.
Oscar's Secret (IRE) 10-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 3 out, ridden and disputing 2nd when left chasing winner last, always held, 2nd of 10, 4 1/2l behind Ivor's King (10-10) at Wincanton 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Oct.
Compton Blue 7-1 (11-5) In touch, driven to challenge approaching 2 out, led last, edged right, all out, won at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gd in Oct beating Parc Des Princes (10-10) by 1 3/4l, 9 ran.
Umustbejoking (FR) (10-5) won at Le Lion D'angers(FR) 2m 1f chs in May beating Biche Des Taillons (10-3) by 2l, 7 ran.
Forresters Folly 4-1 (10-8) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 4th, ridden after 3 out, no extra approaching last, 4th of 10, 18l behind The Jugopolist (10-6) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f 4yo mdn stks (5) gs in Oct.
Nazreef 50-1 (11-2) Raced wide in last pair, ridden and struggling before 3 out, tailed off, 5th of 6, well behind Grumeti (11-0) at Kempton 2m nov hdl G2 (1) gd in Feb.
Ivor's King (IRE) 5-4fav (10-10) Made all and keen, mistake 5th, ridden before and blundered last, kept on well, driven out, won at Wincanton 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Oct beating Oscar's Secret (11-3) by 4 1/2l, 10 ran.
Laveroque (FR) 13-2 (11-12) Held up mid-division, ridden after 2 out, weakened before last, 9th of 15, well behind American Legend (11-9) at Ffos Las 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Oct.
Sonofagun (FR) 7-1 (11-10) Always towards rear, 10th of 12, well behind Turbolinas (10-3) at Wetherby 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Dec.
Thoresby (IRE) 11-2 (11-2) Mid-division, headway 3 out, chased leading pair before next, led approaching last, ridden and kept on flat, won at Towcester 2m 5f NH Novice Handicap Hurdle (0-105) (3yo+) (4) gf in Oct beating South Stack (11-5) by 2l, 12 ran.
Spanish Fork (IRE) 4-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, challenged last, soon led, ridden out, won at Stratford 2m 3yo mdn hdl (4) gs in Sep beating Tidal Way (11-0) by 1l, 8 ran.
