held up towards rear, headway after 5 out, under pressure before 3 out, soon weakened
prominent, led 6th, headed before next, weakened after 3 out
mid-division, outpaced 5 out, headway 3 out, chased winner next, kept on well, never able to challenge
towards rear, slow 3rd, ridden halfway, soon beaten
held up in rear, headway to chase leaders 4 out, weakened 2 out
held up in rear, headway 4 out, ridden to challenge 2 out, kept on same pace
chased leaders, pushed along halfway, under pressure 5 out, styed on well
mid-division, headway 5 out, chased leaders approaching last, never on terms
held up, headway 2 out, never dangerous
behind, not fluent 1st, never a factor
led until 6th, soon lost place, rallied 5 out, weakened after next
always prominent, led before 7th, 5 lengthes clear 3 out, soon hard driven, not fluent 2 out, stayed on strongly
in touch, weakened 4 out
A very competitive opener in which few can be ruled out with confidence. CYRIEN STAR is the choice as the Bollin Eric gelding showed significant improvement to score in deteriorating ground conditions at Wetherby last time. He looks appealingly treated here and patience is very much the watchword of the Henry Daly approach to training. There should be more to come and he is preferred to Our Joey for whom trip and ground will hold no terrors. George Bewley's gelding is developing into a genuine and consistent handicapper who nearly always seems to run his race. Scots Gaelic is a potential improver despite toting his fair share of weight and is worth a shortlist spot, whereas Fighter Jet has indicated he'd prefer quicker ground. Abruzzi and Revocation are also noteworthy in an open affair.
Talkonthestreet (IRE) 6-5fav (11-0) Tracked leaders in 3rd until in rear but still in touch 6 out, weakened before 2 out, last of 4, 15l behind Otto The Great (10-11) at Doncaster 3m nov chs (4) gd in Feb.
Scots Gaelic (IRE) 13-2 (10-6) Mid-division, headway when not fluent 3 out, not much room and switched right flat, stayed on same pace towards finish, 4th of 11, 4 1/2l behind Crowning Jewel (11-1) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Oct.
Fighter Jet 12-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, pushed along when hampered 2 out, (normal 3 out), driven and no extra before last, 5th of 12, 10l behind Hidden Identity (10-9) at Chepstow 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-140 (3) gd in Oct.
Mission Complete (IRE) 20-1 (10-8) Prominent when not fluent 1st, tracked leaders, ridden after 9th, lost place before 2 out, mistake last, 12th of 20, 20l behind Trackmate (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl (2) gd in Oct.
Beyeh (IRE) 20-1 (10-0) In touch, mistake and ridden 4 out, headway before next, weakened soon after 3 out, tailed off, 9th of 11, 50l behind Aaim To Prosper (10-8) at Doncaster 3m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Mar.
Our Joey (IRE) 9-4fav (10-12) Led, riden and headed run-in, soon no extra, 2nd of 6, 1 3/4l behind Maggio (11-7) at Kelso 2m 6f hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Abruzzi 8-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 9th until 4 out, went 2nd again before 3 out, driven before last, kept on same pace, 2nd of 9, 1 3/4l behind Cannon Fodder (10-11) at Plumpton 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Oct.
Revocation 11-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, went 2nd briefly on home turn, weakened 2f out, 3rd of 7, 23l behind Royal Regatta (10-12) at Aintree 2m 4f NH nov hdl 4-6yo (4) gd in Oct.
Storm Alert 7-1 (11-1) Mid-division, headway 4 out, soon chased leaders, ridden and stayed on to take 3rd after last, no impression, 3rd of 12, 3 1/2l behind Royal Native (11-6) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs.
Border Phoenix 66-1 (11-4) In rear, pushed along before 5 out, never a factor, 7th of 10, 50l behind Big Casino (11-1) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) sft in Oct.
Milano Magic (IRE) 10-1 (11-2) Led, ridden and headed last, stayed on same pace flat, 3rd of 8, 5l behind Josies Orders (10-13) at Aintree 3m nov hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gs in Oct.
Cyrien Star 4-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, went 2nd 2 out, led narrowly last, left clear, won at Wetherby 2m 6f cond nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs beating My Oh Mount Brown (11-8) by 6l, 10 ran.
Shouldavboughtgold (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Mid-division, jumped slowly and lost place 3rd, ridden 8th, well beaten 3 out, 7th of 8, 25l behind Josies Orders (10-13) at Aintree 3m nov hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gs in Oct.
