soon led, headed 3rd, remained prominent, fell 5th
held up in touch, driven to challenge 3 out, kept on same pace
held up, headway to chase clear leader after 4th, every chance 2 out, no extra flat
chased leader, led 3rd, soon well clear, headed 5 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, outpaced halfway, soon behind, pulled up after 5 out
chased leaders, mistake 9th, weakened 8th, behind when pulled up 5 out
chased leaders, driven 8th, weakened 5 out, pulled up after next
held up, outpaced halfway, rallied 5 out, chased leaders next, effort 3 out, stayed on under pressure to lead after last, all out
behind, headway 5 out, weakened 3 out
held up, headway 9th, led 5 out, mistake 2 out, headed after last, kept on under pressure
CLOUDY GLEN was having only his second outing over fences when caught in the final strides at Carlisle 11 days ago. Hugh Nugent’s 5lb allowance could give the confirmed front-runner the edge in this company with the returning Sonic looking the main threat. The latter has placed at Cartmel in all three starts over fences so far and is preferred to Oscar Wilde, who fell some way from home when still going well at Wetherby last time. Neachells Bridge should find this easier than recent tasks at Ascot and New Quay will be sharper for a recent comeback but Love Lane failed to complete when favourite at Chepstow having placed on her earlier chasing bow.
Cloudy Glen (IRE) 4-5fav (11-7) Tracked leader, led 7th (usual 11th), 5 lengths clear bypassing omitted 2 out, ridden and reduced advantage inside final furlong, no extra and headed final strides, 2nd of 5, nk behind Chapel Stile (11-7) at Carlisle 2m 5f hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Neachells Bridge (IRE) 14-1 (10-13) Held up, headway 3 out, every chance 2 out, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 8, 10l behind Pym (11-13) at Ascot 3m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
New Quay (IRE) 4-1 (10-12) Held up in touch on outside, headway 10th, prominent 4 out, lost place after next, soon beaten, weakened between last 2, 5th of 6, 23 1/2l behind Buster Valentine (11-2) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Serosevsky (IRE) 20-1 (11-5) Close up in rear, reminders 9th, weakened next, pulled up 6 out, at Bangor-on-Dee 3m hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Love Lane (IRE) 15-8fav (12-4) Held up behind, struggling 11th, soon lost touch, tailed off when pulled up 5 out, at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Sonic (IRE) 9-4 (11-6) Led, narrowly headed 2 out (normal 3 out) chased winner and kept challenging until ridden and no extra run-in, 2nd of 4, 4 1/2l behind Canton Prince (11-6) at Cartmel 2m 5f (4) sft in Jul.
Don't Ask (IRE) 12-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, pushed along after 9th, weakened before last, 6th of 8, dist behind Boldmere (11-1) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Fortified Bay (IRE) 25-1 (11-1) Held upon outside, slow 4th and 5th, headway 12th, weakened after 3 out, 5th of 8, 30l behind Mr Caffrey (11-1) at Bangor-on-Dee 3m hcp (3) hvy in Nov.
Ratfacemcdougall (IRE) 9-2 (11-8) Chased leaders, mistake 11th and 12th, effort after 3 out, no extra approaching last, 4th of 6, 19 1/4l behind Calivigny (11-0) at Sedgefield 2m 5f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Oscar Wilde (IRE) 9-4 (11-4) Chased leaders, fell 13th, at Wetherby 2m 5f hcp (4) sft in Nov.
