jumped well, made all, clear approaching 2 out, kept on strongly, unchallenged
jumped left, soon well behind, lost touch 5th, tailed off when mistake and pulled up 4 out
took keen hold, tracked winner, hit 8th, pushed along approaching 3 out, held approaching next, hit last, no chance with winner, just held on for 2nd
tracked leading pair, pushed along after 4 out, outpaced before next, plugged on run-in, almost snatched 2nd but never any chance with winner
Withdrawn
Altior won this last year but there is no suggestion yet that any of these will scale the same heights. Paul Nicholls has two entries and either could win if on a going day, though Cyrname is having his first run in this country outside of handicap company. However, Tommy Silver’s Bangor second was franked when the winner scored at Haydock on Saturday under a penalty. SHANTOU ROCK beat The Unit by nine lengths at Newton Abbot in October and the second ran well behind Willoughby Court at Huntingdon next time. Dan Skelton’s charge was unable to dominate at Warwick last month but his fast jumping will be an asset on this easier course and he’ll be hard to peg back.
Cyrname (FR) 11-4 (11-8) Keen and tended to jump right, led until 8th, chased winner until 3 out, no impression when left modest 2nd 2 out, 2nd of 5, 4 1/2l behind Bigmartre (11-6) at Newbury 2m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Kostaquarta (IRE) 14-1 (11-1) Led to 2nd, in touch, mistake 11th, lost place before 4 out, soon weakened, 7th of 8, 36 1/4l behind Caspian Piper (11-11) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp (5) gd in Sep.
Shantou Rock (IRE) 8-15fav (11-6) Led, quickened clear 5 out, 7 lengths advantage 3 out to before next, ridden between last 2, headed narrowly last, no extra flat, 2nd of 5, 2l behind Ozzie The Oscar (11-1) at Warwick 2m (3) gs in Nov.
Tommy Silver (FR) 4-5fav (11-4) Pressed winner, ridden and every chance 2 out, not quicken run in, 2nd of 4, 1 1/2l behind Testify (10-13) at Bangor 2m 1f (3) sft in Dec.
The Unit (IRE) 11-4 (11-2) Chased leaders, went 2nd 7th, not fluent 10th, hit 3 out and 2 out, not pace of winner flat, 3rd and held towards finish, 3rd of 5, 1 3/4l behind Willoughby Court (11-2) at Huntingdon 2m 4f (3) gd in Nov.
