held up behind in touch, mistake 2nd, chased leaders when not fluent 3 out, soon outpaced, ridden and ran on flat, finished well towards finish, not reach leaders
tracked leaders on outside, outpaced before 3 out, no impression from next
tracked leaders on inside, outpaced 4 out, soon behind, weakened next, tailed off
with winner, not fluent and lost place 3 out, soon outpaced, weakened approaching last
tracked leading pair, challenged 3 out, every chance when not fluent last, ridden and kept on flat, just held when lost 2nd near finish
made most, hard pressed from 3 out, ridden and kept on under pressure flat, just held on near finish
tracked leaders, went 3rd before 2 out, ridden flat, stayed on well to take 2nd and press winner towards finish, just held
Dual hurdles winner FAYETTE COUNTY has fallen in both starts over fences when still in contention. He should go close with a clear round and gets another chance here. Gentleman Jon also came a cropper on his latest start but already looked beaten while Bullet Street failed to get involved at Ascot last time having won at Ludlow earlier. New Year's Eve was less than fluent on his chasing bow and blinkers are applied for the first time and Whispering Harry has been raised 5lb for winning at Haydock last month but could still go well.
Fayette County (IRE) 6-1 (10-13) Edgy and mounted on course, took keen hold, held up tracking leaders, went 2nd and going well enough when fell 3 out, in a race won by Far West (11-8) at Newbury 2m 1f nov hcp chs (3) gs in Dec, 4 ran.
Bullet Street (IRE) 10-1 (11-3) Took keen hold, held up in rear, brief effort in 5th and pushed along after 3 out, weakened before next, last of 6, 25l behind Big Hands Harry (11-3) at Ascot 3m nov hcap ch (3) sft in Nov.
New Year's Eve 5-2 (11-7) Held up in 4th, outpaced 9th, mistake 4 out, weakened next, 4th of 5, 34l behind Sir Valentino (11-2) at Ludlow 2m nov ltd hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft.
Gentleman Jon 10-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, lost place 5th, rallied 8th, jumped slowly 10th, rallied next, weakened before 4 out, last when fell 3 out, in a race won by Ned Stark (11-5) at Newbury 2m 6f nov hcap ch (3) sft in Nov, 8 ran.
Softsong (FR) 25-1 (9-9) Led, headed 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before next, in a race won by Batavir (10-2) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl (2) sft in Dec, 12 ran.
Whispering Harry 11-2 (10-9) Prominent, hard driven 4 out, led next, mistake 2 out, stayed on well (1 fence ommited), won at Haydock 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in Dec beating Stagecoach Pearl (11-5) by 1 1/4l, 8 ran.
Crafty Roberto 16-1 (10-1) Mid-division on inside, driven before 2 out, kept on same pace, never near leaders, 9th of 17, 18l behind Exitas (9-11) at Market Rasen 2m 1f Listed hcp hdl (1) gd in Sep.
