mid-division, ridden and outpaced 2 out, stayed on strongly to take 2nd flat, no chance with winner
tracked leaders, led 8th, ridden and headed 2 out, weakened next
towards rear, fell 4 out
led, headed 3rd, hit 6th, weakened and lost touch from 3 out
towards rear and mistakes, hampered 4 out, lost touch from next
prominent, led 3rd, headed 8th, ridden from 3 out, weakened from approaching last
held up, chased leaders 4 out, ridden next, soon beaten
tracked leaders, lost place 6th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
tracked leaders, led 2 out, ridden approaching last, drew clear flat
Fearless Foursome can defy topweight to complete a five-timer, with Yankee Holiday and Insurgent seen as the main dangers. Fearless Foursome has certainly lived up to his name during the month of December, rattling up four successive victories. Not surprisingly he has shot up the weights as a result, but as he had little more than an exercise canter at Wetherby last time, there should still be more left in the locker. With no doubts about the ground either, he looks all set to register another course-and-distance success. Of his main rivals, Yankee Holiday does not appear badly treated, and nor does Insurgent, but they will both have to be at the top of their game to stop the selection. All in all, this looks a good opportunity for Fearless Foursome to keep up his winning run.
Fearless Foursome 4-7fav (11-13) Tracked leaders, went 3rd after 6th, went 2nd approaching 3 out, close 2nd when left in lead and clear 2 out, won at Wetherby 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Dec beating Been Here Before (10-4) by a distance, 4 ran.
College City (IRE) 12-1 (10-6) Held up, outpaced 3 out, soon beaten, no chance when unseated rider at the last in race won by dhtrs Nobodys Perfect (11-1) & Cloudmor (11-4) at Sedgefield 2m 4f cnd hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Dec, 6 ran.
Your Advantage (IRE) 10-1 (10-6) Always towards rear, 6th of 9, 49l behind Jimmy Bond (10-11) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Dec.
Kalic d'Alm (FR) 15-2 (10-13) Led, headed briefly 4 out, headed 2 out, soon ridden, kept on until no extra flat, 4th of 6, 2 1/2l behind Terlan (11-4) at Newcastle 2m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Dec.
Tagar (FR) 14-1 (11-11) Mid-division, weakened from 11th, behind when pulled up 4 out in race won by Black Chalk (10-7) at Musselburgh 2m 4f amt hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Dec, 14 ran.
Yankee Holiday (IRE) 11-4jt-fav (10-9) Led, untill headed approaching 4 out, soon ridden and gradually weakened, 3rd of 8, 10l behind Ben Britten (11-9) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Dec.
Insurgent (IRE) 7-1 (10-4) Tracked leaders, hit 8th, disputed lead 4 out, every chance 2 out, ridden and no extra flat, 2nd of 9, 3l behind Miss Pross (11-3) at Sedgefield 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Dec.
Ballyboe Boy (IRE) 9-2 (11-10) Led to 3rd, dropped back quickly, ran on again before last, 3rd of 11, 2 1/2l behind Baawrah (10-7) at Cartmel 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (E) gd in Aug '05.
Aztec Prince (IRE) 50-1 (11-2) Raced keenly, led 3rd, headed 8th, outpaced approaching 4 out, soon beaten, 4th of 5, 21l behind Regal Heights (10-13) at Newcastle 2m beg chs (4) sft.
