midfield, ridden and lost place end of back straight, well held 4 out, no extra
held up in rear, headway on outside turning for home, ridden after 4 out, not fluent 3 out, stayed on under pressure before last, stayed on flat
held up in touch, ridden before 4 out, chased leader 2 out, driven to lead narrowly last, stayed on flat, headed final strides
led, headed 3rd, led 7th, narrow advantage turning for home, ridden before 3 out, headed before 2 out, kept on from last
held up towards rear, midfield 6th, pushed along 8th, towards rear 9th, ridden into midfield end of back straight, lost touch when not fluent 3 out, weakened from 2 out
prominent, ridden and weakened end of back straight, well beaten when pulled up before 4 out
midfield, chased leaders 7th, ridden before 4 out, not fluent 2 out, one pace
held up towards rear, awkward 2nd, headway on outside into midfield back straight, ridden behind leaders 4 out, in touch 2 out, weakened before last
midfield, jumped left 5th, not fluent 9th, ridden and lost place back straight, detached before 4 out, well adrift when tired jump 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
towards rear, ridden and lost touch back straight, well adrift 3 out, tailed off 2 out, pulled up before last
tracked leader, led 3rd, headed narrowly 7th, close up when ridden before 4 out, led approaching 2 out, headed before last, stayed on strongly under pressure to lead final strides
NonRunner
Lithic arrives with every chance having gone close at Wetherby last month while Big Difference has been thereabouts on faster going recently. Bermeo has been in good form in amateurs' races and won at Cheltenham in October while both Dawson City and Sizing Cusimano have slipped down the weights and the former has won over course and distance twice before. Dancing Shadow placed at Chepstow last time but was well beaten in last year’s renewal behind runner-up PETITE POWER. The latter hasn’t been at his best on faster going since returning to action but was beaten only a neck in this last year and can race off the same mark today.
Petite Power (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Soon towards rear, niggled along and behind after 9th, stayed on from 3 out, went never dangerous 4th flat, 4th of 11, 22l behind Storm Control (11-6) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Lithic (IRE) 3-1fav (12-2) Held up in last pair, not fluent 3rd, steady headway 11th, travelling well out wide in 3rd before 4 out, went 2nd before 3 out, every chance after last, outbattled towards finish, 2nd of 5, 1/2l behind Commit Or Quit (10-13) at Wetherby 3m hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Dawson City 11-4fav (12-0) Chased leaders, outpaced after 14th, no impression from 4 out, kept on flat, went 3rd close home, 3rd of 7, 7 1/2l behind Optimistic Bias (11-4) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Dancing Shadow (IRE) 28-1 (10-0) Led and soon clear, reduced lead before 5 out, ridden and strongly pressed run-in, kept on gamely until headed and lost 2nd post, 3rd of 12, shd behind Present Man (11-9) at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Some Detail (IRE) 28-1 (10-9) Led, mistake 5th and lost position, pushed along 4 out, weakened before 3 out, 12th of 18, 30 1/2l behind Demachine (10-9) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp (3) gs in Oct.
Ballymalin (IRE) 11-1 (11-3) In touch, ran out just before 15th, at Uttoxeter 3m 2f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Holdbacktheriver (IRE) 28-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, lost place 6th, outpaced 3 out, rallied approaching last, stayed on to go poor 2nd towards finish, 2nd of 8, dist behind Hill Sixteen (11-8) at Ffos Las 2m 3f hcp (3) hvy in Nov.
Sizing Cusimano 10-3 (11-4) Led, pushed along after 3 out, soon headed, went 2nd flat but no match for winner, 2nd of 6, 14l behind Awake At Midnight (11-3) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Bermeo (IRE) 15-2 (10-0) Mid-division, slow 9th, ridden before 13th, headway after 16th, kept on flat, went 2nd close home, not able to get to winner, 2nd of 11, 3/4l behind Storm Control (11-6) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Buster Edwards (IRE) 5-1 (12-1) Held up towards rear, headway when not fluent 11th, went 4th 4 out, no impression and well held from 3 out, lost 4th and mistake last, 5th of 10, 31l behind Cyclop (11-5) at Chepstow 3m hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Findusatgorcombe 10-1 (11-12) Slight lead until 1st, in front again after next until before 3rd, pressed leader, led again 5th until approaching 3 out where dropped to 3rd weakened into 4th next, 4th of 10, 13 3/4l behind Avoir De Soins (11-5) at Lingfield 2m 4f hcp (5) sft in Nov.
Big Difference (IRE) 10-3fav (11-1) Prominent, challenged 4 out, not fluent 2 out, no impression on winner flat, kept on, 2nd of 9, 2 1/2l behind Waikiki Waves (11-0) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp (4) gd in Nov.
