tracked winner until ridden 3 out, weakened next
held up in touch, ridden and headway to track leaders 2 out, hit next, driven and stayed on one pace
close up, hit 4th, ridden 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up last
held up towards rear, ridden 3 out, kept on, never near leaders
tracked leaders, ridden before 2 out, effort last, stayed on one pace
in touch, headway to chase leaders when hung left 2 out, weakening when hit last
held up towards rear, headway 4 out, tracked leaders next, ridden to join winner run in, no extra towards finish
tracked leaders, chased winner soon after 3 out until next, weakened run in
in rear, never on terms
made all, ridden 2 out, joined run in, found extra towards finish, gamely
in touch, weakened before 2 out, pulled up last
towards rear, wide and headway approaching 2 out, no impression after
keen held up in rear, not fluent 3 out, never near leaders
in touch, ridden 3 out, weakened next
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Bells 'n' Banjos won easily at Fontwell last month and remains largely unexposed. The same can be said of Sugar Baron, who has only raced twice over hurdles. French import Matorico should also have more to offer and Baron Alco has won both starts this season. Simply A Legend has won over track and trip and stayed on strongly to score last time at Sandown while Keltus should have benefited from his fifth in that race and is another to consider. But GUNNER FIFTEEN was a real eye-catcher at Haydock on his return from a long lay-off. He was well backed that day and only weakened at the last after racing keenly – he'll strip fitter here and could be well treated if he settles better.
Bells 'n' Banjos (IRE) 5-2 (11-8) Made most, not fluent 5th, clear 2 out, stayed on, won at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp (3) sft in Nov beating Decimus (11-12) by 14l, 5 ran.
Matorico (IRE) 15-8 (11-5) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 2 out, ridden to challenge last, no impression flat, 2nd of 3, 1 1/4l behind Duke Des Champs (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 3f (4) hvy in Dec.
Seebright 5-1 (11-7) Midfield, headway to chase leaders halfway, led after 2 out, stayed on well (2 fences ommited), won at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp (3) gd in May beating Imperial Circus (10-12) by 1l, 9 ran.
Sugar Baron (IRE) 2-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders on inside, pushed along in 3rd before 2 out, not quicken between last 2, weakened before the last, 4th of 8, 8 1/4l behind Our Kaempfer (11-8) at Kempton 2m 5f (4) gd in Mar.
Keltus (FR) 10-1 (11-0) Tracked leading trio, 2nd approaching 2 out, weakened approaching last, 6th of 10, 7 3/4l behind Simply A Legend (10-5) at Sandown 2m 5f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Flying Angel (IRE) Evensfav (11-4) Held up in rear, headway 5th, chased winner before 3 out, ridden and no impression before next, lost 2nd flat, 3rd of 6, 25l behind Agrapart (10-12) at Aintree 2m 1f (3) sft in Dec.
Simply A Legend 6-1 (10-5) Held up in last pair, headway approaching 2 out, ridden chasing leaders between last two, 2nd at the last, stayed on under pressure run-in to lead close home, won at Sandown 2m 5f hcp (2) sft in Dec beating Foxcub (11-9) by nk, 10 ran.
Max Forte (IRE) 8-1 (11-5) Led until 2nd, reamained prominent, under pressure in 3rd when hit 3 out, rallied approaching last, kept on under pressure, 3rd of 11, 2l behind Always Lion (11-0) at Ludlow 2m 5f (3) gs in Nov.
Swnymor (IRE) 25-1 (11-11) Mid-division, headway after 5th, outpaced after 3 out, well beaten before last, 6th of 9, 10 1/2l behind Template (11-3) at Huntingdon 2m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Baron Alco (FR) 5-4fav (11-10) Made all, ridden before last, hung right run-in, kept on, driven out, won at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp (3) sft in Nov beating Mr Fitzroy (10-11) by 3 1/4l, 6 ran.
Minellaforleisure (IRE) 17-2 (11-0) Mid-division, fell 4th, at Catterick 2m 3f (4) gs in Dec.
Billy No Name (IRE) 10-1 (10-4) Chased leaders, went 2nd before 3 out, no impression on winner from last, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 12, 12l behind Missed Approach (10-7) at Newbury 3m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Gunner Fifteen (IRE) 13-8fav (10-8) With leader, ridden after last, one pace, 5th of 9, 10 1/2l behind Rock The Kasbah (11-9) at Haydock 2m 3f hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Dubh Eile (IRE) 6-1 (10-0) Mid-division on outside, headway 7th, outpaced after 3 out, well beaten next, 7th of 9, 36 1/2l behind Sea Lord (11-12) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (2) gd in Jul.
Little Boy Boru (IRE) 7-2 (11-4) In rear, not fluent 3rd, headway 9th, went 2nd before 2 out, no chance with winner, well held when fell last, at Uttoxeter 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Church Field (IRE) 4-5fav (11-1) Tracked leaders, 2nd from 2nd until after 4th, 2nd again before 3 out, challenged 2 out, led before last, driven flat, stayed on, won at Worcester 2m 4f (5) gd in Oct beating Bar A Mine (10-10) by 2 1/4l, 5 ran.
