led, headed approaching 7th, soon weakened
held up, headway 6th, every chance 2 out, narrow leader last, out battled and headed close home
in touch, headway 6th, led approaching 2 out, headed last, ridden flat to lead close home
tracked leaders, hit 5th and weakened
held up, steady headway approaching 6th, ridden to chase leaders 2 out, one pace
tracked leader, ridden 4th, lost place and tailed off 6th
in touch, ridden and lost place 5th, soon tailed off
held up, brief effort 5th
held up, effort after 5th, weakened approaching 3 out
keen, headway after 5th, led 3 out, headed approaching 2 out, weakened
in touch, soon steadied, never a factor after 5th
Dance With Wolves could make a bold bid to follow up last year's win in this race but he was below par on his return in November. Stablemate Misbehaviour should be involved whilst it's dangerous to dismiss any of Gary Moore's three runners but Amble Forge may be worth a speculative interest. He's out of the weights and has been well beaten on all three starts over hurdles but he is weighted accordingly for his handicap bow. His best performance came in a bumper here on debut and, with his yard going well, it looks worth taking a chance at the likely prices that the switch to handicapping will see him in a better light. Cockatoo looks to be the pick of the Moore runners with Jamie taking the ride but he may not be ideally suited by this ground, Axinit has a 13lb rise to overcome and Misbehaviour is high enough in the weights. That all gives the race an open look and Amble Forge may be able to spring a surprise.
Axinit (GER) 5-1 (10-10) Made all, clear before 3 out, unchallenged, won at Leicester 2m 4f sll hdl (4) sft in Dec beating Sninfia (9-13) by 9l, 11 ran.
White On Black (GER) 7-1 (11-1) Chased leaders, ridden and beaten 2 out, weakened soon after, 5th of 7, 22l behind Ring The Boss (11-3) at Newbury 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Dec.
Cockatoo (USA) Evensfav (11-8) Mid-division, not fluent 2nd, headway and hit 6th, ridden and mistake 3 out, went 2nd and carried right from 2 out, kept on, not pace of winner, 2nd of 6, 3/4l behind Forest Silver (10-9) at Fontwell 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gf in Jun.
Harcourt (USA) 25-1 (11-5) Mid-division, ridden approaching 6th, stayed on from 2 out, 4th of 16, 15l behind Panjo Bere (11-11) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Dec.
Misbehaviour 10-1 (11-5) Held up, headway after 4 out, ridden approaching 2 out, chased winner in vain approaching last, 2nd of 12, 16l behind Royal Wedding (11-0) at Plumpton 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Dec.
Dance With Wolves (FR) 6-1 (11-0) Led, headed 5th, losing place when bumped after 5th, soon behind, 9th of 10, 28l behind Silver Prophet (11-1) at Plumpton 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Nov.
Nick's Choice 16-1 (10-10) Always in the rear, weakened 7th, 10th of 18, 46l behind Bob Mountain (11-7) at Chepstow 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Apr.
Krasivi's Boy (USA) 4-1 (11-10) Mid-division, ridden approaching 7th, mistake 3 out, soon weakened and pulled up at the last in race won by Willandrich (10-11) at Fontwell 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gf in Jun, 16 ran.
Secret Divin (FR) 15-8fav (11-0) Led, hit 6th, headed and weakening when pecked next, 6th of 7, well behind Lord Baskerville (10-9) at Stratford 2m nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in May '06.
Amble Forge (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) Held up, outpaced 3 out, no impression, 7th of 8, well behind All For The Cause (11-0) at Newcastle 2m nh mdn hdl (4) gs in Dec.
Spider Boy 16-1 (9-7) Led 2nd, headed 4 out, soon ridden and one pace, 4th of 13, 13l behind Barton Legend (11-2) at Ludlow 2m 5f amt nov hcp hdl (4) gs in Dec.
Smokey The Bear 20-1 (10-12) Led, ridden and headed 2 out, kept on same pace, 4th of 6, 7l behind Classic Gold (11-4) at Taunton 2m 1f nov hdl (3) frm in Nov.
