held up in last pair, headway out wide approaching 3 out, weakened before next
led but pressed, narrowly headed 4 out, chased leader until pushed along before 3 out, weakened 3 out
chased leaders, went 2nd out wide before 3 out, challenged and slightly hampered next, upsides last, stayed on strongly to lead final 100 yards, won going away
pressed leader, led narrowly 4 out, joined and went left 2 out, strongly pressed when slight nod on landing last, driven and stayed on until headed and no extra final 100 yards
raced wide and tended to jump right, held up towards rear, jumped slowly and lost a place 7th, rapid headway chasing leaders before 10th, weakened quickly home turn, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
waited with in rear, steady headway on inside when angled out 3 out, hung right and chased leaders before 2 out, ridden between last two, hung right and stayed on in 3rd run-in, no chance with leading duo
raced keenly chasing leaders on inside, pushed along turning in, pushed along in 3rd before 2 out, ridden when not much room on inside and switched left approaching last, weakened into 4th run-in
chased leaders out wide, pushed along after 12th, mistake next, ridden and weakened home turn
Es Perfecto was runner-up to subsequent winner Ginny’s Destiny on his chasing bow at Cheltenham and will be fancied to go one better. Something was clearly amiss with Outlaw Peter when last seen while General Medrano’s latest second at Plumpton has been franked. The step up in trip will suit Newbury fourth Russian Ruler and also Kotmask, though the latter needs to brush up his jumping. Blow Your Wad still has time on his side but Cheltenham winner IDALKO BIHOUE could take some catching around here if the fences don’t get in the way.
General Medrano (IRE) 5-2fav (11-10) Close up, tracked leaders 4 out, ridden to chase winner 2 out, kept on one pace, 2nd of 5, 2 1/2l behind Brave Kingdom (11-4) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Idalko Bihoue (FR) 5-1 (11-2) Led, reached for 4th, soon headed, smooth headway before 3 out, soon led and ridden, 2 lengths clear 2 out, stayed on approaching last, kept on well run-in, won at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Oct beating Railway Hurricane (11-5) by 7l, 9 ran.
Blow Your Wad (IRE) 2-1 (11-10) Held up, closed 12th, ridden and went 2nd 2 out, no impression on winner, 2nd of 4, 10l behind Le Patron (10-12) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Outlaw Peter (IRE) 85-40 (11-10) Kicked at the start, led until slow 3rd, not fluent and reminder 5th, led before 7th, soon headed, disputing lead when not fluent 14th, driven after 15th, no extra 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, at Ludlow 3m hcp (3) gs in Oct.
Russian Ruler (IRE) 9-2 (11-2) Towards rear, outpaced 9th, ridden and headway approaching last, stayed on towards finish, 4th of 6, 9 3/4l behind Djelo (11-10) at Newbury 2m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Es Perfecto (IRE) 9-2 (11-0) Raced keenly, soon steadied into last trio at 6th, headway tracking leaders before 3 out, left in over 3 lengths 2nd 2 out, stayed on same pace run-in, no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 10l behind Ginny's Destiny (11-9) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Kotmask (FR) 5-2fav (11-10) Prominent until 1st, chased leaders, lost place 5th, fell 8th, at Sandown 1m 7f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Off To A Flyer (IRE) 10-1 (10-5) Towards rear, pushed along 3 out, some headway before 2 out, stayed on, never on terms, 4th of 10, 9 1/4l behind Get A Tonic (11-1) at Newbury 2m 5f hcp (2) gs in Dec.
