led to after 1st, tracked winner to 4th, pushed along after 4 out, ridden and beaten next, soon eased , tailed off
led after 1st, made rest, hit 3 out, ridden and in command when hit last, driven out
KARASAKAL tries blinkers for the first time and can win again ahead of Spirit Of Lake and Bankstair. Gary Moore's gelding was a clear-cut winner on desperate ground at Folkestone when last seen in November and should prove hard to beat if translating that run, or indeed his fine second to Zabeel Palace at Ascot, to fences. Spirit Of Lake was well-fancied at Newton Abbot last time out and didn't fare badly in second spot behind Over The Flow and the ground will be in his favour if it stays quick, whilst Bankstair may improve now tackling fences off a very modest mark of 88. Maxwil is up a couple of pounds for his latest second at the track to Good Old Days and although the form doesn't leap off the page he is hard to ignore in a race of this ilk. Karasakal is given just the tentative vote.
Maxwil 15-2 (11-12) In touch, headway to chase winner 4 out, 2 lengths 2nd when mistake 3 out, held when mistake 2 out, 2nd of 9, 4l behind Good Old Days (10-13) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Apr.
Karasakal (IRE) 5-6fav (11-12) Held up in touch, headway before 2 out, led approaching last, soon clear, very easily, won at Folkestone 2m 1f 4yo Am hcp 0-100 (4) hvy in Nov beating Keyneema (11-4) by 29l, 5 ran.
Bankstair (FR) 8-1 (10-10) Mid-division, mistake 5th, headway 8th, mistake 3 out, weakened approaching last, 7th of 12, 23l behind Hurricane Electric (10-0) at Bangor 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in May.
Spirit of Lake (IRE) 9-2fav (10-11) Tracked leaders, led 3rd, ridden approaching 2 out, soon under pressure, headed last, no extra towards finish, 2nd of 12, 1 3/4l behind Over The Flow (11-6) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in May.
