Darebin couldn’t follow up his course and distance win here in November off this mark at Fontwell. Two-times course winner Sea Wall was the subject of a gamble here last month but didn’t find much in the closing stages and eventually finished behind third Steel City. Peruvien Bleu has been beaten twice in lesser company since scoring at Towcester while Fairy Rath is likely having a pipe-opener before going back over fences. COOL SKY was just denied at Fontwell on Boxing Day and is undoubtedly well treated at present. He can go one better here with Richard Johnson taking over the reins, though Free Stone Hill is gradually improving.
Fairy Rath (IRE) 6-1 (10-9) Held up, mistake 4th, weakened before 4 out, 5th of 9, 27 1/2l behind Fair Dilemma (10-9) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp (2) gs in May.
Bingo D'Olivate (FR) 4-1 (11-5) Held up in touch, weakened before 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, at Ffos Las 2m hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Darebin (GER) 11-2 (11-7) Tracked leaders, ridden before last, weakened run-in, 6th of 7, 12 3/4l behind Divine Spear (11-7) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Peruvien Bleu (FR) 11-8fav (11-8) Detached in last, headway on outside when stumbled 3 out, no impression on leaders before last, 4th of 9, 10 1/4l behind Applesandpierres (11-11) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Sea Wall (FR) 3-1fav (11-12) Held up in rear, good headway tracking leaders from 3 out, ridden and weakened between last 2, 7th of 12, 10 1/4l behind Pure Vision (10-8) at Lingfield 2m hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Cool Sky 7-1 (10-13) Prominent, in 3rd from 2 out, ridden before last, just held post, 2nd of 7, shd behind Divine Spear (11-7) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Kingston (GER) 100-1 (10-2) Always in rear, pushed along and lost touch 3 out, no chance when went left 2 out and last, tailed off, 8th of 10, 34l behind Brain Power (11-10) at Sandown 2m hcp lst (1) gs in Dec.
Ryeolliean 12-1 (10-8) Took keen hold, led, headed when not fluent 3 out, weakened before next, 8th of 13, 25l behind Zulu Oscar (11-4) at Kempton 2m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Free Stone Hill (IRE) 6-1 (10-12) In rear, headway to take 2nd from 3 out, kept on same pace in 3rd before last, 3rd of 6, 17l behind Prime Venture (10-12) at Sedgefield 2m 1f (4) gs in Nov.
Steel City 17-2 (11-3) Raced wide, chased leader, blundered and lost 2nd briefly 4th, led 5th until after next, lost 2nd 2 out, chased leading pair, ridden and one pace in 3rd between last 2, 3rd of 12, 5 3/4l behind Pure Vision (10-8) at Lingfield 2m hcp (4) gs in Dec.
