held up, headway on outside approaching 3 out, chased leaders 2 out, weakened before last
always behind
always behind
raced wide, held up, headway to track leaders 4th, led going well 2 out, clear approaching last, pushed out flat
mid-division, mistake and weakened 5th, tailed off when mistake 2 out
behind from 5th, tailed off
never better than mid-division
mid-division, ridden, headway, in touch and staying on one pace when blundered and fell 5th
led, ridden and headed 2 out, soon weakened
chased leaders, hit 5th, close up next, weakened before 2 out
mid-division, effort 3 out, soon one pace and beaten
always behind
in touch, headway 3 out, chased winner soon after 2 out, no impression and hit last
chased leaders, hit 3 out, weakened under pressure before last
chased leaders, weakened before 3 out, behind when fell next
mid-division, headway to chase leaders from 4th, one pace approaching last
held up, brief effort approaching 3 out, soon beaten
keen hold, chased leaders, weakened 4th, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
held up in rear, headway 3 out to chase leaders 2 out, weakened before last
Star Member continues his education over timber and has the class to prevail against a whole host of dangers including Emmasflora, Lucky Do, Havetoavit, Random Quest and Green Iceni. Star Member was the best of these on the Flat, having taken on the best staying handicappers in both the Northumberland Plate and the Ebor this season, but he was basically disappointing, and it was nice to see his enthusiasm rekindled with a debut win over timber at Stratford in September. At first glance the form looked nothing special, but the runner-up Air Guitar has since franked the form by bolting up at Ludlow on Thursday, and although given a mark of 105 for his first handicap over hurdles, the Ian Williams-trained six-year-old can prove up to the task, with the stiff finish in his favour. Emmasflora gets weight off all of the younger opponents above her here, and she too displayed abundant stamina when scoring at Towcester last time. With Adam Pogson claiming seven-pounds off her back, she can go well. Lucky Do lines up in search of a hat-trick and returns fresh after a three-month break, while Havetoavit will get every assistance in the saddle from Barry Geraghty. Random Quest managed to hold on to open his account in testing going at Chepstow last time and is another worth a mention along with Green Iceni who will be all the better for his belated return at Stratford where he finished despite not jumping well. Plenty in with chances then, but our vote goes to Star Member.
Havetoavit (USA) 6-1 (11-7) Held up, 11th after halfway, improved into 5th 4 out, close 3rd after next, challenged travelling best approaching 2 out, led before last, kept on well, easily, won at Tralee 2m 1f mdn hdl gd in Aug beating Quartino (11-7) by 3 1/2l, 17 ra.
Kylebeg Dancer (IRE) 6-1 (10-5) Chased leader, 4th and ridden 4 out, soon beaten, moderate 7th 2 out, kept on again, 4th of 14, 15l behind Laetitia (10-10) at Down Royal 2m mrs nov hdl sft.
Mokum (FR) 50-1 (11-0) Chased leader to 5th, weakened after 6th, tailed off, last of 7, well behind Rimsky (11-0) at Chepstow 2m 4f nov hdl Grd 2 (A) sft in Oct.
Not Left Yet (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, never dangerous, 13th of 16, well behind Karelian (11-0) at Doncaster 2m 4yo nov hdl (C) gd in Jan.
Simonovski (USA) 40-1 (11-0) Always behind, 5th of 7, 34l behind Darrias (11-8) at Huntingdon 2m lst nov hdl (A) gf in Oct.
Emmasflora 3-1 (10-5) Made all, ridden 3 out, kept on well, won at Towcester 2m mrs nov hdl (D) gd in Oct beating Martovic (10-12) by 4l, 10 ran.
Lucky Do (IRE) 7-2fav (11-2) Held up, steady headway after 4th, went 2nd after 3 out, led next, clear when pecked last, readily, won at N Abbot 2m 1f clm hdl (F) gs in Aug beating Sir Walter (10-5) by 4l, 15 ran.
Random Quest 10-3 (10-12) With leader, led 2nd, clear approaching 3 out, ridden approaching last, just held on, won at Chepstow 2m nov hdl (E) hvy beating Fleurette (10-5) by a shd, 10 ran.
Star Member (IRE) 2-1fav (11-0) Tracked leader, led 6th, ridden 2 out, driven out, won at Stratford 2m 6f mdn hdl (D) gd in Sept beating Air Guitar (11-0) by 1 1/2l, 14 ran.
Danticat (USA) 25-1 (11-7) Towards rear, kept on from 3 out, 9th of 17, more than 18l behind Masrahi (11-7) at Roscommon 2m nov hdl sft in Oct.
Bollin Thomas 5-1 (11-2) Chased leaders until outpaced 2 out, 5th of 16, 10l behind Tandava (11-2) at Kelso 2m 2f mdn hdl (E) sft in Apr.
United Spirit (IRE) 11-4 (11-3) Held up in touch, headway approaching 2 out, led approaching last, pushed out, won at Hexham 2m mrs nov hdl (E) gf in Oct beating Tingshaw Ring (11-10) by 3l, 12 ran.
Green Iceni 7-1 (11-0) Mid-division and hit 1st., headway 6th to chase leaders, every chance when mistake 2 out, not recover, 3rd of 15, 3 1/2l behind Magical Legend (10-0) at Stratford 2m mdn hdl (D) gd in Oct.
Don And Gerry (IRE) 16-1 (10-9) Held up, headway from 5th, led approaching 2 out, joined last, headed flat, no extra final 100 yards, 3rd of 11, 4l behind Motorway (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m mdn hdl (D) gd in Oct.
Murphy's Nails (IRE) 7-4 (10-12) Chased leader, led after 8th, hard ridden, headed flat, stayed on, 2nd of 11, 1/2l behind Redspin (10-12) at Ludlow 2m 5f nov hdl (E) gf in Oct.
Abragante (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) Held up, always in rear, 10th of 16, well behind Black Hills (10-12) at Exeter 2m 1f nh nov hdl (D) gs.
Alternative Route (IRE) 5-1 (10-10) Mid-division, 8th 5 out, improved into close 3rd approaching 3 out, close 2nd and challenged after next, 3rd and no extra from last, 3rd of 15, 5l behind Carrick Dante (11-0) at Thurles 2m 4f nov hdl gs in Sept.
Flying Patriarch 12-1 (11-5) Led, joined 4th and 5th, headed after 8th, kept on until weakened before last, 5th of 15, 16l behind Magot De Grugy (11-3) at Lingfield 2m 3f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (E) sft in Oct.
Dare To Dance 8-1 (10-12) Chased leader in moderate 2nd, closer order from 5 out, no extra under pressure from 2 out, 7th of 16, 9l behind Dream Castle (11-5) at Listowel 2m hdl gd in Sept.
High Altitude (IRE) 3-1 (10-12) Chased until weakened after 3 out, 5th of 8, 21l behind College Ace (10-12) at Stratford 2m nh nov hdl (D) gs in Oct.
