close up, not fluent 8th, pushed along 4 out, headway 2 out, joined leader last, not fluent last, kept on run-in, always held
towards rear, not fluent first, minor headway 7 out, blundered when struggling and fell 6 out
held up in rear, headway 5 out on inner, asked for effort 2 out, no extra before last
made all, ridden 3 out, faced strong challenge last, kept on run in, gamely
mid-division, pushed along 3 out, detached 2 out, no extra
towards rear, ridden 6 out, tailed off soon after, pulled up
tracked leaders, pushed along 4 out, tailed off 2 out
in rear, jumped right throughout, headway on outer 3 out, ridden 2 out, kept on same pace thereafter
in rear, struggling and detached 5 out, pulled up
Diamond Brig concedes weight all round but his first assignment since wind surgery saw him well beaten and connections now reach for a first-time visor in an attempt to generate improvement. He's a player if the plan works. Celestial Sky, picking up regular place money over timber, is now sent into open handicap company for this chasing bow under Brian Hughes. He's only had five runs under Rules so this 3m3f trip should be quite a test first time up over fences. Regaby is a leading contender at his best but his is not the most consistent of profiles and a chance is taken with the lowly-weighted ELIXER in the hope he'll stay this far on the back of two solid recent runs.
Diamond Brig 8-1 (11-7) Pushed along towards rear, not fluent 9th, behind 13th, 4th of 8, dist behind No No Maestro (11-9) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Celestial Sky (IRE) 13-2 (11-12) Held up towards rear, not fluent 6th, switched left after 3 out, headway when not clear run before 2 out, went 2nd flat, kept on, no impression on winner, 2nd of 8, 4 1/4l behind Permission Granted (10-9) at Ayr 3m hcp (5) gd in Oct.
Whitechurch (IRE) 40-1 (10-10) Held up, mistake and unseated rider 4th, at Hereford 3m 2f hcp (5) gd in Nov.
Regaby (IRE) 5-2 (10-4) Never that fluent, tracked leaders in close 4th, bit slow at 7th, went 3rd 4 out, went 2nd and mistake 2 out, no chance with winner, blundered last, 2nd of 5, 11l behind Brother Pat (11-9) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp (5) gd in Oct.
Supreme Steel (IRE) 10-1 (10-10) Chased leaders, ridden 4 out, weakened 2 out, 5th of 11, 37 1/4l behind Kaphumor (11-0) at Hexham 3m hcp (5) gs in Nov.
Angel's Envy 25-1 (10-2) Held up in rear, some headway after 4 out, mistake 3 out, soon weakened, 7th of 12, 21 1/4l behind Uno Mas (12-3) at Huntingdon 3m 1f hcp (5) gd in Oct.
Scorpo (IRE) 80-1 (10-0) In rear, lost touch 7th and tailed off, pulled up, at Musselburgh 2m hcp (5) gs in Nov.
Elixer (IRE) 6-1 (10-0) Midfield, chased leader 9th, led 11th, ridden 2 out, headed before last, no extra, 4th of 7, 3 3/4l behind Zen Master (10-0) at Sedgefield 2m 5f hcp (5) gd in Oct.
Strategic (IRE) 33-1 (10-0) Towards rear, pushed along 5 out, never involved, 6th of 11, dist behind Kaphumor (11-0) at Hexham 3m hcp (5) gs in Nov.
