behind, headway approaching 2 out, challenging when dived at last, led final 110 yards, stayed on well
held up in mid-division, headway 4th, led after 2 out, headed final 110 yards, held after, kept on
chased leader, jumped right 1st, 4th and outpaced after 2 out, went 3rd flat, kept on, no impression on front pair
not always fluent, in rear, modest headway after 5th, soon weakened, tailed off
led, headed after 2 out, 3rd and held when not fluent last, no extra flat
chased leaders, shaken up after 3 out, weakened after next, pulled up before last ( Following the race, the representative of Paul Nicholls reported that HELL RED (FR), which started favourite and was pulled up, made a respiratory noise )
held up rear of mid-division, jumped right 1st, closed before 4th, struggling from 3 out, kept on flat, no chance
chased leaders, jumped right and not fluent 2nd, not fluent and lost place 4 out, soon behind, tailed off
Cabot Cliffs is 5lb better off than when beaten eight lengths by Duffle Coat in a Listed race at Wetherby but that may not be enough to turn the tables on Gordon Elliott’s so-far unbeaten raider. Historic Heart also won last time at Wetherby but is easily held on collateral form. Adagio made a winning start over timber at Warwick but the interesting one is HELL RED, who breezed to success at Chepstow and has nothing to fear from Billy The Squid and Jersey Grey on that run. Balko Saint has shown promise but needs to find another gear.
Duffle Coat (IRE) 11-4fav (10-12) Chased leaders, lost place 3rd, headway before 3 out, led last, clear flat, ran on well, won at Wetherby 2m lst (1) gs in Oct beating Hiconic (10-5) by 8l, 7 ran.
Adagio (GER) 15-8 (10-12) Slightly hampered 2nd, tracked leader, going best before 2 out, led and hit 2 out, 3 lengths clear when mistake last, shaken up and stayed on well run-in, won at Warwick 2m (4) gd in Nov beating Duke Of Condicote (10-12) by 7 1/2l, 8 ran.
Balko Saint (FR) 11-8fav (10-12) Held up, headway 5th, went 2nd 4 out, led after next, headed and mistake last, no impression towards finish, 2nd of 7, 3 1/2l behind See The Eagle Fly (10-5) at Fontwell 2m 2f (4) sft in Oct.
Billy The Squid (IRE) 17-2 (10-12) Prominent, bumped 2nd, pushed along 4 out, ridden before 3 out, not fluent 2 out, one pace after, 3rd of 8, 13 1/2l behind Hell Red (10-12) at Chepstow 2m (4) gd in Oct.
Cabot Cliffs (IRE) 17-2 (10-12) Held up in rear, pulled hard, headway 3rd, shaken up before 3 out, mistake last, 3rd and held flat, no impression on winner, stayed on to press for 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 7, 8 1/4l behind Duffle Coat (10-12) at Wetherby 2m lst (1) gs in Oct.
Hell Red (FR) 1-2fav (10-12) Made all, stretched clear approaching 3 out, easily, won at Chepstow 2m (4) gd in Oct beating Phoenix Aquilus (10-12) by 12l, 8 ran.
Historic Heart (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Prominent, hit 4 out, pushed and challenged for lead after 2 out, battled on bravely all the way to the line, just prevailed, won at Wetherby 2m (4) gs in Oct beating First Impression (10-12) by ns, 10 ran.
Jersey Grey (FR) 18-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders going well, hit 4 out, went 2nd 2 out, led between last 2, ridden and strongly pressed towards finish, held on gamely, won at Lingfield 2m mdn (4) sft in Oct beating Pyramid Place (11-0) by shd, 6 ran.
