close up, led narrowly 5th, headed 7th, close up after 4 out, led before 3 out, headed last, strong run flat to lead close home
held up towards rear, pushed along briefly 13th, modest headway under pressure 4 out, chased leader 2 out, led last, kept on flat but headed close home
led narrowly, headed 5th, mid-division 9th, reminders 14th, dropped towards rear 17th, tailed off from 2 out
pressed leaders, restrained towards rear 4th, mistake 7th, ridden after 13th, well adrift 15th, pulled up before 17th
held up in rear, headway 15th, ridden and lost touch 4 out, awkward 2 out, tailed off before last
held up, not fluent 1st, headway into midfield 13th, ridden and lost ground 4 out, awkward 2 out, tailed off before last
held up behind leaders, headway to chase leader 10th, led 11th, headed 15th, weakened 2 out
close up, led 7th, headed 11th, led 15th, headed before 3 out, faded before last
mid-division, headway to chase leaders 8th, mistake 12th and reminders, close up when ridden before 4 out, weakened 2 out, pulled up before last
held up towards rear, not fluent 15th, ridden when in rear before 4 out, headway past beaten horses 3 out, ran on from 2 out
Classic Escape was still travelling when unseating his rider on his second start over fences at Southwell in September. But, on line through subsequent Perth winner Cage Of Fear, he is closely matched with last year’s winner LATE DATE. Micky Hammond’s nine-year-old is a standing dish around here and on the same mark as 12 months ago. Nortonthorpelegend is a dour stayer with a decent strike-rate in this grade and he should be approaching peak fitness after a couple of runs at Hexham while Skyhill rattled up a four-timer last season which included a victory over track and trip. Carrick Roads is a rarer runner here for Colin Tizzard but has a bit to prove at present.
Carrick Roads (IRE) 7-2 (11-2) Midfield, mistake 10th, not fluent 12th, soon pushed along, dropped to rear 4 out, soon beaten, pulled up before 2 out, at Newton Abbot 2m 5f hcp (3) hvy in Oct.
Classic Escape (IRE) 5-2fav (11-12) Mid-division, travelled well at halfway, mistake and unseated rider 11th, at Southwell 3m hcp (4) gd in Sep.
Boa Island (IRE) 50-1 (11-10) Pressed leader, lost 2nd 7th, outpaced next, bumped 11th, weakened 3 out, last of 6, dist behind Lock's Corner (11-10) at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Sep.
Connetable (FR) 9-1 (11-10) Led until 5th, chased leaders, weakened rapidly after 3 out (normal 4 out), plugged on again run-in, 5th of 10, dist behind Roccowithlove (11-1) at Newbury 3m hcp (4) sft in Feb.
Cairnshill (IRE) 9-1 (10-12) Last pair, not fluent 4 out, soon lost touch, tailed off, last of 4, dist behind Chocolat Noir (11-4) at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp (3) gf in Sep.
Skyhill (IRE) 9-4fav (11-0) Tracked leading pair, weakened before 2 out, 4th of 5, 10 1/4l behind Bryden Boy (11-11) at Kelso 3m 2f hcp (4) hvy in Mar.
Boric 7-1 (10-9) Not fluent 2nd, blundered 10th and reminder, weakened after 12th when disputing third, left second last, never on terms, 2nd of 5, dist behind Federici (11-12) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp (3) gs in Oct.
Nortonthorpelegend (IRE) 11-2 (10-11) Chased leader, led 7th, headed next, lost 2nd after 2 out, no impression last, 4th of 9, 9 3/4l behind Damiens Dilemma (10-7) at Hexham 3m hcp (4) gd in Sep.
Late Date (IRE) 16-1 (10-9) Prominent, ridden before 3 out, mistake 2 out, ridden and weakened soon after, 4th of 7, 13l behind Cage Of Fear (11-7) at Perth 3m hcp (4) gs in Sep.
Lex Talionis (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Ridden early and prominent, lost place 2nd, slow 6th, closed 10th, struggling from 13th, well beaten 4th 2 out, 4th of 5, 33 3/4l behind Soldier Of Love (11-11) at Bangor-on-Dee 3m hcp (4) gd in Jul.
