tracked leaders, led 4th, headed 14th, outpaced 3 out, soon weakened
held up in touch, not fluent 3rd, reminders 13th, chased leaders under pressure 3 out, weakened next
led, headed 4th, tracked leaders, struggling 13th, stayed on under pressure from 2 out, no impression
held up behind, under pressure 13th, soon beaten
with leader, hit 4 out and next, outpaced 2 out, 3rd and beaten when hit last
held up in touch, struggling 14th, soon weakened, behind when pulled up before 4 out
held up in touch, headway to challenge 13th, led next, hard pressed 2 out, ridden and edged left approaching last, stayed on under pressure flat
tracked leaders, went 2nd 3 out, challenged next, ridden and every chance last, kept on flat
Pause And Clause did well over hurdles last season but still has plenty to learn about jumping fences on the evidence of two recent runs at Ascot. Triggerman is another that has yet to take to the larger obstacles so far, though was clearly biting off more than he could chew against seasoned handicappers at Wincanton last time. The vote, therefore, goes to CITY THEATRE who ran well for a long way when fourth at Chepstow last month before lack of condition told. Jonjo O'Neill's gelding can only improve and is preferred to Kempton second Strategic Approach and General Kutuzov, though the latter looked as though the run would do him the power of good when fifth here last month.
Canni Thinkaar (IRE) 80-1 (10-10) Held up in last pair but well in touch, headway to go prominent 7th, led next, mistake 2 out, headed between last 2, kept on flat, 2nd of 6, 1l behind Ravethebrave (11-1) at Folkestone 2m 5f nov ch 0-125 (3) sft in Nov.
City Theatre (IRE) 9-2 (11-1) Held up towards rear, in rear before 5 out, ridden and weakened 2 out, 4th of 6, 18l behind Keel Road (10-8) at Chepstow 3m beg chs (4) sft in Oct.
General Kutuzov (IRE) 5-2 (11-1) Took keen hold and raced wide, held up until pulled way up to chase leaders before 2nd, slow and dropped to rear 10th, weakened and behind from 12th, tailed off, 5th of 6, 19l behind Ravethebrave (11-1) at Folkestone 2m 5f nov ch 0-125 (3) sft in Nov.
Pause And Clause (IRE) 10-3 (11-1) Not fluent early, tracked leader, led 7th, headed 11th, ridden next, kept on one pace from 3 out, 4th of 6, 13l behind Master Of The Hall (11-1) at Ascot 2m 5f beg chs (3) gs in Nov.
Rear Gunner (IRE) 4-1 (11-1) Mostly chased leader, led 6th until mistake and headed 8th, chased leader until hit 2 out, no impression on front pair when hit last, 3rd of 6, 6l behind Ravethebrave (11-1) at Folkestone 2m 5f nov ch 0-125 (3) sft in Nov.
Strategic Approach (IRE) 3-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, not fluent 11th, ridden in 4th after 13th, 3rd before 4 out, ridden and no real impression when left modest 2nd after 4 out, edged right and closed before 3 out, no impression next, 2nd of 5, 4 1/2l behind Key Cutter (11-2) at Kempton 3m beg chs (4) gd in Nov.
Triggerman 9-1 (10-8) Always in rear, last at 13th (water), tailed off, 11th of 14, well behind Meanus Dandy (9-11) at Wincanton 3m 1f listed hcp chs (1) gd in Nov.
Misstree Dancer 20-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, headway from 8th, chased leaders 4 out, went 3rd before 3 out, edged left and weakened last, 5th of 11, 5l behind Stow (10-11) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Nov.
