often jumped left, pressed leader, led 2nd (water), headed 6th, chased leader, challenged 4 out, led and went left next, slight lead when hit 2 out, joined run-in, ridden and held on close home
sometimes jumped left, led until 2nd (water), pressed leader, led 6th, pushed along and joined 4 out, narrowly headed next, remained challenging and every chance run-in, just held close home
always behind, last pair and struggling 10th, tailed off, blundered badly and rider lost iron briefly 2 out
mid-division, closer approaching 7th, pushed along and outpaced before 4 out, soon weakened
mid-division on inside, weakened 14th, no chance when went left 15th
raced wide, chased leaders, pushed along in 4th after 15th, ridden and outpaced 3 out, plugged on
chased leaders on inside, ridden and went 3rd before 2 out, kept on same pace, no chance with leading duo
last pair, struggling in rear 10th, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
held up in mid-division, headway chasing leaders 12th, pushed along in 3rd before 4 out, hit next, lost that placing before 2 out, weakened
Derek O’Connor has traveled across the Irish Sea to partner Kilfilum Cross for Henry Oliver but the top weight was tailed off at Wetherby last time. Captain Buck's finished ahead of course and distance winner Uhlan Bute in this last year and is much better of at the weights but has had a disappointing campaign. Muckle Roe is a rare winner nowadays while Midnight Target’s latest second came over hurdles, though she likes it here. TRIGGER NICHOL has yet to race over a trip this far but he wasn’t stopping over 2m6f at Leicester and a leading amateur has been booked. Still unexposed, the seven-year-old looks the one to beat.
Kilfilum Cross (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Prominent, under pressure 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off when left in remote 3rd 3 out, 3rd of 5, dist behind Top Ville Ben (11-6) at Wetherby 3m (4) gs in Dec.
Uhlan Bute (FR) 9-1 (11-10) Made most until 6th, chased winner until 11th, chased leaders, 3rd and one pace before 3 out, 3rd of 9, 2 3/4l behind Touch Kick (11-11) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Feb.
Lord Ballim (FR) 20-1 (11-13) Not always fluent, in rear, well beaten 4 out, 10th of 14, dist behind Django Django (11-8) at Chepstow 3m hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Trigger Nichol (IRE) 9-2 (11-11) Tracked leaders, smooth headway to join leader 4 out, led next, drew clear from 2 out, pushed out flat, comfortably, won at Leicester 2m 7f hcp (4) gf in Jan beating Boughtbeforelunch (11-6) by 11l, 10 ran.
Muckle Roe (IRE) 6-1 (12-0) Chased leaders, not fluent and lost place 12th, headway before 14th, stayed on same pace from 2 out, 3rd of 12, 9 1/2l behind Ange Des Malberaux (11-9) at Warwick 3m 1f hcp (4) gs in Jan.
Midnight Target 7-2 (11-8) Led until 5th, led next, ridden approaching 2 out, headed after last, no impression towards finish, 2nd of 5, 2l behind Gold Chain (10-11) at Ludlow 3m hcp (3) gd in Jan.
Captain Buck's (FR) 7-2fav (11-8) Held up in rear, reminders after 11th, headway on outside chasing leaders 15th, hit 16th, 5th when blundered and pecked next, weakened 2 out, 5th of 10, 35 3/4l behind Potters Corner (11-8) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Vinnie Red (IRE) 28-1 (11-6) Close up, dropped to rear at 8th, ridden and outpaced 4 out, weakened 2 out, last of 6, dist behind Thyne For Gold (10-10) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Primal Focus (IRE) 6-1 (10-4) Held up in last pair, headway approaching 4 out, went modest 3rd 2 out, 3rd of 8, 9 1/4l behind Cracking Destiny (10-5) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Jan.
