held up in touch, chased leaders approaching 8th, lost place next, mistake 4 out, soon beaten
held up in rear, in touch, mistake 12th, chased leaders approaching 2 out, led just after last, hard ridden and strongly challenged flat, held on under pressure
led until 3rd, chased leaders, under pressure 12th, weakened last
tracked leaders, ridden 10th, weakened 13th, behind when pulled up 3 out
disputed lead after 3rd, hard ridden to challenge approaching 3 out, weakened after next
disputed lead after 3rd, jumped left throughout, hard driven after 3 out, headed just after last, rallied, stayed on strongly flat, just failed
held up towards rear but in touch, headway 3 out, soon ridden to challenge, weakened before last
Nonrunner
Charlie Longsdon's Songe was good value for his win at Huntingdon last month but a 13lb rise for that success looks harsh and a better bet may be ALESANDRO MANTEGNA. Keith Goldsworthy's gelding has shown improved form this term with a win at Fontwell last month and placed efforts either side of that and he can resume winning ways racing off the same mark as when a fair second at Worcester last time. Bible Lord faces no easy task giving weight away all round and of more interest may be Emma Lavelle's Qianshan Leader, who won well at Taunton last month but has gone up 7lb for that victory and may struggle to follow up. Or Bleu could be of interest on his reappearance but a safer option looks to be Alesandro Mantegna.
Bible Lord (IRE) 18-1 (11-1) Led until mistake 2nd, hit next, lost place and reminders 7th, blundered 9th, pulled up before next, in a race won by Stormin Exit (10-0) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp chs (2) gd in Apr, 13 ran.
Songe (FR) 11-4fav (11-4) Held up behind, headway 3 out, challenged when hit 2 out, soon led, clear last, stayed on well, comfortably, won at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Oct beating Kirkhammerton (10-8) by 12l, 9 ran.
Or Bleu (FR) 5-2fav (11-8) Chased leaders, mistake 5th, lost place and behind 10th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Edgbriar (11-12) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Mar, 6 ran.
Polmar (FR) 9-2 (10-12) Led, headed approaching and not fluent 2 out, outpaced, 6th of 15, 22l behind Iceman George (10-5) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Double Dizzy 14-1 (10-1) Chased leaders, outpaced 4 out, weakened from next, 7th of 10, 33l behind Midnight Chase (11-0) at Cheltenham 3m hcp chs 0-150 (2) gd in Oct.
Alesandro Mantegna (IRE) 9-2 (11-10) Prominent, ridden 11th, chased winner from 2 out, no impression last, 2nd of 7, 6l behind Sir Ian (11-7) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Oct.
Commemoration Day (IRE) 5-1 (11-11) Close up, ridden 7th, weakened 11th, 4th of 5, 43l behind Dead Or Alive (11-5) at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gf in May.
Qianshan Leader (IRE) 13-2 (11-4) Tracked leader to 6th, remained in touch, outpaced in 3rd approaching 3 out, ridden next, stayed on under pressure to lead flat, won at Taunton 2m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gf in Oct beating Rockiteer (11-7) by 1l, 8 ran.
