held up in midfield, chased leaders 5th, ridden and close up 3 out, led before last, headed flat, stayed on strongly to lead close home
pressed leader, upsides when hit 5th, led narrowly 6th, ridden after 3 out, headed before last, rallied to lead flat, headed close home
held up towards rear, ridden and outpaced 4 out, headway to chase leaders 2 out, close up last, stayed on flat
held up towards rear, steady headway 7th, ridden after 3 out, one pace from 2 out
held up in rear, hampered 1st, ridden after 3 out, weakened before last
prominent, fell 1st
led, headed narrowly 6th, close up when ridden after 4 out, gradually weakened from 2 out
Before Midnight rattled up a four-timer before coming up against top-flight performers at Kempton over Christmas and will appreciate the return to handicap company but MOONLIGHTER could be well treated dropped a further 3lb since his third at Sandown and this is a track that can favour those who race prominently. King D'argent is also starting to slip down the weights and Fransham is useful but has done most of his winning at Wetherby. Gold Des Bois probably needs to take a step forward but Funambule Sivola looks a threat to all eased in grade given the form of his yard.
Funambule Sivola (FR) 7-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear on outside, headway before 13th, not fluent 12th, mistake 4 out, 5th and beaten 2 out, weakened after, 9th of 16, 26 1/4l behind Vienna Court (10-6) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Jan.
Before Midnight 12-1 (11-0) Led, pushed along and headed before 2 out where not fluent, no extra approaching last, last of 4, 20l behind Shishkin (11-3) at Kempton 2m (1) sft in Dec.
The Big Bite (IRE) 10-1 (12-1) Tracked leader, mistake 5th, pushed along 4 out, mistake 2 out, soon ridden and weakened, pulled up, at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
King D'Argent (FR) 50-1 (11-11) Held up, pushed along and lost touch over 4 out, 9th of 12, dist behind Il Ridoto (10-4) at Newbury 2m hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Fransham 2-1fav (11-11) Held up, steady headway 8th, led after 4 out, ridden and headed 2 out, no extra, 3rd of 5, 4 1/4l behind Cornerstone Lad (11-12) at Wetherby 1m 7f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Moonlighter 6-1 (11-11) Raced keenly, soon tracking leader, pushed along and lost 2nd before 3 out, plugged on in moderate 3rd, 3rd of 7, 11 1/4l behind Gunsight Ridge (11-0) at Sandown 2m hcp (2) hvy in Jan.
Gold Des Bois (FR) 9-2 (11-1) Led, ridden and headed 4 out, mistake and unseated rider 2 out, at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Jan.
