held up in touch, went 2nd 6th, led after 2 out, driven out
led, headed after 2 out, soon ridden, ran on gamely flat
held up in touch, ridden and weakened before 2 out
prominent to 2nd, held up, pushed along approaching 2 out, ridden to take 4th before last, one pace
held up, progress approaching 7th, weakened 2 out
held up, fell 3rd
held up in touch, pushed along and went 3rd before 2 out, ridden approaching last, one pace
chased leader to 6th, weakened 7th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
Last season’s Supreme Novices’ runner-up Thomas Darby is back over hurdles having failed to take to fences. Ballymoy is another whose chase career has been put on hold but he won this last year and is only 2lb higher. Jolly's Cracked It loves it here but wind surgery would need to have halted a recent decline and all of his hurdles victories have come in the first half of the season. Song For Someone couldn’t overcome a further 11lb rise at Sandown but that form is working out well. PIC D’ORHY had top-class form in France but has only run once in this country so far. He fell at Auteuil on his only start this season but will enjoy the going and could be well treated so is preferred to Haydock winner Bold Plan, who has gone up 10lb, and Newbury third Soul Emotion.
Thomas Darby (IRE) Evensfav (11-2) Bit keen, held up in 4th, mistake and outpaced 8th, rallied into modest 3rd before 3 out, 3rd of 7, 33 1/2l behind Master Tommytucker (11-2) at Kempton 2m 2f (4) gs in Nov.
Song For Someone (GER) 7-1 (11-12) Pressed leader, led before 3rd, ridden after 2 out, headed approaching last, no impression with front pair flat, 3rd of 13, 4 1/4l behind Mack The Man (10-1) at Sandown 2m hcp lst (1) hvy in Dec.
Ballymoy (IRE) 4-9fav (11-2) Led until 1st, chased leader until 7th, went 2nd again before 9th, slow 3 out, soon ridden, no impression last, 2nd of 5, 12l behind Knight In Dubai (11-2) at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 4f (4) hvy in Nov.
Soul Emotion (FR) 8-1 (11-12) Chased leader until approaching the last where left 2nd, every chance early run-in, weakened into 3rd final 200 yards, 3rd of 12, 3 1/4l behind Dorking Boy (10-2) at Newbury 2m 5f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Pic D'Orhy (FR) (10-7) at Auteuil 2m 3f sft in Nov.
Bold Plan (IRE) 11-4fav (11-1) Held up towards rear, headway 3 out, chased leaders next, went 2nd after last, ridden and stayed on well flat, led closing stages, won at Haydock 2m 3f hcp (2) gs in Nov beating Whoshotthesheriff (11-3) by 2 1/2l, 12 ran.
Jolly's Cracked It (FR) 10-1 (11-7) Held up mid-division, progress on outside when mistake 5th, pushed along after 3 out, weakened 2 out, 11th of 15, 19 3/4l behind Gumball (11-6) at Ascot 2m hcp lst (1) gs in Nov.
The Knot Is Tied (IRE) 9-1 (11-9) Held up in touch, ridden from 2 out, soon weakened, at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
