disputed lead, tracked leader 4th, ridden before 3 out, hit 3 out and weakened quickly
in rear, ridden well before 3 out, soon beaten
disputed lead, led 4th, pressed before 3 out, ridden and headed before 2 out, left behind by winner well before omitted last, kept on one pace
tracked leaders, pushed along after 4 out, weakened before 3 out, pulled up before last
towards rear, ridden after 4 out, plugged on for remote 3rd from before omitted last
in rear, ridden 6th, soon lost touch, pulled up before last
chased leaders, pressed leader before 3 out, led before 2 out, soon went clear in a canter, easily
TAKE YOUR TIME was completing a double when landing the odds here just over three weeks ago but third Flashjack is 5lb better off for a six-length defeat. The ground may have turned against Geordie Des Champs while 3m tests the stamina of the front-running Kateson and Al Dancer has never won beyond 2m5f, though caught the eye back over hurdles at Sandown and Thomas Doggrell takes off 7lb again. Saint Dalina is preferred to Bells Of Peterboro of the others.
Al Dancer (FR) 8-1 (11-9) Raced keenly chasing leaders, went 2nd before 5th until next, chased leaders, not fluent next, ridden before 2 out, soon outpaced, kept on again run-in, 4th of 12, 6l behind Pileon (10-8) at Sandown 2m 7f hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Geordie Des Champs (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) Held up, headway on outside 8th, challenged 3 out, led before jumping right 2 out, well in command after, stayed on, won at Uttoxeter 2m 7f hcp (3) gd in Nov beating Bootlegger (11-9) by 4l, 6 ran.
Kateson 12-1 (11-6) Led, ridden over 2 out, pressed and quickly headed before last, mistake last, kept on until no extra closing stages, 3rd of 13, 7 1/2l behind Tamar Bridge (11-0) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Take Your Time (IRE) 10-11fav (11-8) Held up, nudged along before 3 out, ridden and headway to challenge before 2 out, sustained duel with leader, led after last, stayed on strongly, won going away, won at Chepstow 3m hcp (3) gs in Dec beating Dell' Arca (11-7) by 2 1/4l, 11 ran.
Flashjack (IRE) 16-1 (11-10) Held up, headway before 3 out, ridden 3 out, stayed on one pace, 3rd of 11, 6l behind Take Your Time (11-8) at Chepstow 3m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Saint Dalina (FR) 14-1 (10-12) Mid-division, ridden and weakened before 2 out, tailed off, 9th of 10, dist behind Flight Deck (11-2) at Carlisle 3m 1f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Bells Of Peterboro (IRE) 4-1 (11-7) Mid-division early, chased leaders before 4th, pushed along over 3 out, ridden under 3 out, kept on same pace until ran on from before last, kept on flat until no extra close home, 3rd of 8, 4 1/4l behind To Be Sure (10-3) at Ffos Las 3m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
