front mid-division, mistake 7th, lost place and pushed along before 10th, closed up again 5 out, went 4th 2 out, kept on but not get on terms thereafter, ridden briefly run-in
tracked leaders, ridden and outpaced before 3 out, one pace and weakened before last
towards rear, ridden 4 out, soon struggling and pulled up
chased leaders, hampered jumping 11th, pushed along after 3 out, pressed leaders and hit 2 out, soon led, ridden before last, stayed on strongly and drew clear run-in
towards rear, ridden after 4 out, never on terms
prominent, jumped right and hampered rival 11th, pushed along after 3 out, ridden and every chance 2 out, kept on but no match for winner
mid-division, ridden after 3 out, weakened after 2 out
led narrowly, mistake 2 out, soon headed, beaten when jumped right last, no extra
in rear, in touch, fell 11th
Breaking The Ice was all out to beat Overcourt a neck when landing a hat-trick of course wins and is 5lb higher. Cooper's Cross and Baron De Midleton are also closely matched on the former’s victory at Sedgefield last month when SOUNDS RUSSIAN (NAP) finished fourth. But the latter went on to score easily at the same track with a couple of subsequent winners filling the places and Ruth Jefferson’s charge can defy a hike in the weights. Ladronne won a lower grade chase at Wetherby on his first start after wind surgery and En Meme Temps ran well at Ayr on his chasing debut.
Overcourt 4-1 (11-12) Mistake 1st in rear, headway to chase front rank after 12th, joined leader 3 out, outpaced by leader after 2 out, pushed along and pressed leader before last, led final fence, 1 length ahead when ridden, repressed and stayed on but headed near finish, 2nd of 10, nk behind Breaking The Ice (10-10) at Kelso 2m 7f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Deluxe Range (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) In rear, not fluent 3rd, not fluent and detached 5 out, tailed off 4 out, last of 4, dist behind Ashtown Lad (11-2) at Wetherby 3m (3) gs in Oct.
Baron De Midleton (IRE) 4-1 (11-2) Tracked leader, mistake 3 out, ridden and outpaced before 2 out, blundered 2 out, made no impression, 2nd of 3, 21l behind Minella Trump (11-12) at Catterick 2m 3f (3) gd in Nov.
Sounds Russian (IRE) 3-1fav (11-4) Mid division, headway tracking leader 3 out, ridden to lead last, bounded clear flat, won at Sedgefield 2m 5f hcp (4) sft in Dec beating Bavington Bob (11-10) by 10l, 9 ran.
Kalaharry (IRE) 12-1 (11-6) In touch, headway 12th, every chance from 3 out, ridden and not fluent last, no extra, 3rd of 9, 3 1/4l behind Scoop The Pot (10-11) at Newcastle 2m 7f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Uptown Harry (IRE) 12-1 (10-1) Prominent, dropped to mid-division after 9th, gradually weakened from 5 out, 8th of 9, 28 3/4l behind Papa Tango Charly (11-10) at Carlisle 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Ladronne (FR) 5-1 (11-12) Close up, tracked leaders 11th, pressed leader 4 out, going well when left in lead 2 out, ran on, won at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp (5) gs in Dec beating Mill Race King (10-10) by 13l, 10 ran.
Breaking The Ice (IRE) 7-2fav (10-10) Disputed lead, led 5 out, joined 3 out, went on again after 2 out, ridden and repressed before last, headed final fence, 1 length down when rallied run-in to lead close home, gamely, won at Kelso 2m 7f hcp (4) sft in Dec beating Overcourt (11-12) by nk, 10 ran.
Niceandeasy (IRE) 13-2 (11-10) Held up towards rear, mistake 8th, headway and not much room last, went 2nd 110 yards out, held and lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 10, 2l behind Macho Mover (11-11) at Haydock 3m hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Brayhill (IRE) 3-1fav (11-11) Disputed lead, ridden 2 out, headed next, kept on one pace, lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 10, 5 1/4l behind Diamond State (11-0) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Cooper's Cross (IRE) 7-4jfav (10-6) Last pair, headway on outside 10th, led 4 out, jumped right 3 out, jumped right and mistake 2 out, headed last, held flat, 2nd of 4, 1 3/4l behind Winds Of Fire (10-10) at Newcastle 2m 7f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
En Meme Temps (FR) 9-1 (11-5) Prominent, challenged 4 out, every chance flat, stayed on, just held, 2nd of 9, 1/2l behind African Dance (11-12) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Nov.
