held up towards rear, mistake 5th, well beaten before 3 out
mid-division, ridden and weakened before 3 out
held up in mid-division, weakened approaching 3 out
held up towards rear, modest 5th 3 out, mistake 2 out, stayed on, went 2nd flat, no chance with winner
not fluent in rear, behind 5th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
tracked leaders on outside, jumped right, mistake 4th, 3rd and beaten 3 out, weakened after, mistake last
led early, chased winner, pushed along 4th, no impression 3 out, hit 2 out, lost 2nd flat
tracked leaders, ridden and no impression in 4th 3 out, plugged on, went 3rd flat
made virtually all, clear 3 out, very easily
mid-division on inside, ridden and weakening in 6th 3 out
Bahama Moon, four times a winner on the Flat, ran well for a long way on his hurdling bow at Ludlow, only fading from the last. Fort Jefferson won three races on the level for Andrew Balding including his latest start at Brighton in October while Passam won a bumper at Bangor on heavy ground but pulled too hard on his hurdling debut at Leicester. Trigger Nichol looked as though he needed a stiffer test of stamina when beaten a long way into third at Bangor and might get it here. WHISKEY IN THE JAR, an impressive bumper winner at Warwick in March, made a promising start over timber but then jumped poorly in a much better race over 2m5f at Ascot. He should do better and looks the one to be on.
Amerton Lane 66-1 (10-12) Towards rear, ridden 5th, tailed off 3 out, 8th of 9, dist behind Waterlord (10-12) at Bangor 2m 1f (4) hvy in Dec.
Bahama Moon (IRE) 20-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, ridden 3 out, not fluent 2 out, weakened flat, 6th of 12, 12 3/4l behind Comrade Conrad (10-7) at Ludlow 2m mdn (4) sft in Jan.
Birch Bank 66-1 (10-8) Led, headed 12f out, stayed handy, weakened over 5f out, 8th of 9, dist behind Rhaegar (10-12) at Warwick 2m (6) gs in May.
Fort Jefferson 8-1 (9-11) Tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, kept on to lead towards finish, won at Brighton 1m 2f hcp (6) gs in Oct beating Rocksette (8-6) by 1/2l, 12 ran.
Mister Rainman (IRE) 50-1 (11-0) Took keen hold, led, headed 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 8, 26 1/4l behind Good Boy Bobby (11-7) at Chepstow 2m (5) hvy in Jan.
Passam 25-1 (11-5) Raced wide, chased leader after 2nd, pecked next, soon lost 2nd, weakened after 4 out, 8th of 12, 35 1/4l behind The New Pharaoh (11-5) at Leicester 2m (4) hvy in Jan.
Trigger Nichol (IRE) 16-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened, 3rd of 13, 23 1/2l behind Fin And Game (11-12) at Bangor 2m 1f (4) hvy in Jan.
Under The Woods 66-1 (10-12) Always towards rear, tailed off when mistake 3 out, 11th of 16, dist behind First Flow (10-12) at Lingfield 2m (4) sft in Nov.
Whiskey In The Jar (IRE) 11-2 (11-0) Never fluent, took keen hold, held up towards rear, awkward 3rd and next, jumped left 6th, tailed off 3 out, pulled up before next, at Ascot 2m 6f mdn (3) sft in Dec.
Zebi Boy 66-1 (11-5) Mistake 5th, always towards rear, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out, at Ludlow 2m 5f mdn (4) sft in Jan.
