held up in rear, some headway approaching 2 out, ridden and some headway run-in, never near leaders
keen tracking leading pair, hit 6th, pushed along after 3 out, weakened before next
tracked leader, led 3rd, not fluent 8th headed 3 out, lost 2nd soon after, hung left and outpaced before 2 out, went modest 3rd close home
led until mistake and headed 3rd, tracked leader, led again 3 out, joined last, ridden and stayed on to assert last 100 yards
last pair, dropped to last and weakened 4 out
held up in 5th, not fluent 8th, pushed along and outpaced when mistake 3 out, soon weakened
took keen hold, held up in last pair, headway tracking leaders 4 out, 2nd briefly before 2 out where every chance, driven and one pace in 3rd between last 2, lost 3rd close home
tracked leaders, close 2nd 2 out, upsides last, ridden and every chance run-in, no extra final 100 yards
NonRunner
King Cool returned to winning ways over fences at Plumpton back in May but has to race off a much higher mark back over hurdles today and STRONG RESEMBLANCE makes more appeal. The latter showed improved form on his first start for Oliver Greenall when runner-up at Ayr just six days ago and gets the nod to go one better racing off the same mark today. Stonemadforspeed ran well on his penultimate start only to disappoint when joint-favourite at Fontwell last time but it’s difficult to make a case for any of the remainder in a weak handicap.
King Cool 11-4jfav (11-8) Slowly away in standing start, behind and pushed along at times, mistake 9th, closer 12th, chased leaders 14th, went 2nd and not fluent 3 out, upsides last, stayed on under pressure to lead run-in, won at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp (5) gd in May beating Roparta Avenue (10-7) by 1l, 9 ran.
Under The Phone (IRE) 18-1 (10-13) Prominent on outside, driven and lost place after 3 out, weakened next, 7th of 9, 26l behind Dreamsoftheatre (11-6) at Warwick 3m 2f hcp (4) gd in Sep.
Stonemadforspeed (IRE) 4-1jfav (11-12) Led until after 3 out, rallying when hit next, mistake when weakening last, 5th of 15, 9 3/4l behind Fenlons Court (12-0) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp (5) gd in Oct.
Strong Resemblance (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, pushed along 6th, wide and headway 4 out, ridden next when landed awkwardly, rallied last, stayed on to go 2nd towards finish, 2nd of 11, 2l behind Storm Nelson (11-11) at Ayr 3m hcp (5) gd in Oct.
Future Boy (IRE) 50-1 (11-2) Always towards rear, weakened after 4 out, tailed off, last of 10, dist behind Mick Maestro (11-2) at Uttoxeter 2m mdn (5) gd in May.
Bare Necessities (IRE) 25-1 (11-10) Tracked leader until jumped slow 1st and dropped to rear, not fluent 4th, behind next, pulled up 3 out, at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in May.
Timetobenefit (IRE) 12-1 (11-3) Held up, ridden 3 out, weakened next, 8th of 13, 27 1/4l behind Gi Jayne (10-12) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp (5) gd in May.
Tir Dubh (IRE) 14-1 (10-1) Never better than mid-division, lost place and behind from 6th, soon struggling, tailed off, 13th of 14, dist behind Jack Lamb (11-11) at Kelso 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Simply Lucky (IRE) 40-1 (10-9) Mid-division, headway chasing leaders 6th, fell 3 out, at Wetherby 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Nov.
