held up, headway 8th, chased leaders 3 out, rider lost whip after last, driven and stayed on strongly close up, just failed
held up, headway approaching 4 out, soon every chance, stayed on same pace from 2 out
tracked leaders, lost place before 3rd, struggling 6th, soon beaten
held up in touch, keen hold, headway after 8th, led 3 out, ridden and just held on
mid-division, not fluent 5th, headway after 7th, soon with leaders, led 4 out, headed next, soon weakened
prominent, led 6th, headed 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up before next
held up in rear, headway 4 out, soon chased leaders, kept on same pace
prominent, led after 2nd, headed next, ridden and weakened after 4 out
led until 2nd, led again next, headed 6th, ridden and weakened before 3 out
Fort Ord steps back up in trip after winning last time out, however he is made for chasing and could struggle off this handicap mark and so preference is for Kim Bailey's mare Special One who has been running consistently well in slightly better races and can finally get her head in front. Others possibly in with a shout include Jug Of Punch who sprang a major shock at 50/1 when beating the selection last time out, but one could not be confident that a repeat will be on the cards, whilst Nigel Twiston-Davies' Needle Prick won a seller last time out but would need to improve to take this stronger event. Fort Ord gets on well with his claiming jockey and obviously has to enter the picture, but the race that he won last time out was a poor affair and so he is passed over in favour of the selection Special One.
Fort Ord (IRE) 9-2 (10-10) Held up, mistake 3rd, steady progress after 3 out, went 3rd after 2 out, stayed on strongly to lead run-in, ridden out, won at Sandown 2m 4f cnd hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd beating Adlestrop (10-7) by 2l, 14 ran.
Very Special One (IRE) 4-1 (11-5) Held up and jumped left, ridden approaching 3 out, headway approaching 3 out, ran on, not trouble winner, 2nd of 9, 1l behind Harris Bay (10-12) at Towcester 2m 5f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Oct.
El Corredor (IRE) 14-1 (11-8) Mid-division, awkward 1st, headway 3rd, weakened and jumped right 5th, tailed off, 7th of 10, well behind Shingle Street (11-3) at Stratford 2m sll hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Delightful Cliche 8-1 (11-7) Soon tracking leaders, weakened approaching 3 out, 6th of 12, well behind Rothbury (11-10) at Wetherby 2m 7f cnd nov hcp hdl (4) sft in Oct.
Needle Prick (IRE) 6-1 (11-2) Always prominent, jumped slowly, led 8th, ridden clear approaching 3 out, not fluent 2 out, hung badly right towards paddock, won at Worcester 3m sll hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Oct beating Maraud (11-2) by 3l, 10 ran.
Dantes Venture (IRE) 28-1 (10-9) Chased leaders until weakened 8th, 9th of 14, 33l behind Blaeberry (11-12) at Exeter 3m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Oct.
Jug Of Punch (IRE) 50-1 (10-9) Held up towards rear, reminders 6th, headway 9th, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, led and rider lost irons last, kept on well, won at Hereford 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf in Oct beating Fort Ord (10-7) by 1l, 16 ran.
Finzi (IRE) 4-1 (11-1) With leader, led 3rd, headed halfway, outpaced from 4 out, 4th of 8, 24l behind Celtic Flow (10-0) at Wetherby 3m 5f hcp chs (4) gd.
Safe To Blush 7-1 (10-6) Held up, in touch, ridden to lead approaching 2 out, soon clear, won at Hereford 3m 2f hcp hdl (5) gf beating Supreme Marque (11-6) by 8l, 10 ran.
