chased leader, 4 lengths down on last bend, closed 2 out, challenged last, soon led, ridden clear
held up in rear, closed from 4 out, pushed along after next, went 3rd last, no impression on winner, stayed on
held up towards rear, hampered 2nd, closed before 4th, mistake 3 out, soon ridden and weakened
led, clear until 1st, went 4 lengths clear on last bend, reduced lead 2 out, not fluent last, soon headed, no extra flat
mid-division, ridden 4 out, weakened next
chased leaders, ridden before 2 out, mistake and lost 3rd last, weakened flat
always behind
held up in rear on outside, jumped left into rival 2nd, pushed along before 4th, soon behind, pulled up before 2 out
held up towards rear, not fluent 1st, weakened before 3 out
mid-division, lost place before 4th, soon behind, pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, weakened before next
Diamond Rock won at Stratford in October and would have a chance if anywhere near that form but the handicapper now appears to have a grip on Wildmoor Boy. Welluptoscratch and Falcon's Reign are returning from a break and Peterpanopirateman has an even longer absence to overcome. STARLIGHT COURT can prevail in a race that won’t take much winning. Dan Skelton’s charge appears to be improving and is a lot less exposed than the majority of these. Celestial Magic has been placed in five of his starts over hurdles so the Haydock fourth looks the danger.
Celestial Magic 18-1 (10-13) Tracked leader, led before 3 out, headed approaching next, lost 3rd towards finish, 4th of 13, 4 3/4l behind Eamon An Cnoic (11-10) at Haydock 2m hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Starlight Court (IRE) 12-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway 4 out, soon chasing leaders, led 2 out, soon headed, no extra after last, 4th of 14, 14 1/4l behind Dashing Oscar (10-12) at Bangor 2m 1f (4) gs in Nov.
Diamond Rock 9-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, lost place before 2 out, 6th of 8, 20 1/4l behind Winning Spark (11-9) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp (3) gf in Dec.
Wildmoor Boy 7-1 (11-4) Led, went left 1st, headed 5th (normal 4 out) lost 2nd next, chased leaders, ridden and weakened before bypassing omitted last, 6th of 14, 13l behind Rocklander (11-12) at Leicester 2m hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Thehossbehind (IRE) 150-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, lost place when not fluent 5th, soon in rear, 10th of 12, dist behind Pingshou (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 1f (3) gd in Dec.
Welluptoscratch (FR) 4-1 (11-2) In touch, ridden 3 out, weakened bend before last, 4th of 8, 27 1/2l behind Hassle (11-2) at Fakenham 2m mdn (4) gd in May.
Blackfire (FR) 25-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, headway after 4 out, not fluent and no extra 2 out, 7th of 17, dist behind Little Bruce (10-11) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Peterpanopirateman (IRE) 17-2 (11-12) Badly hampered start, in rear, headway to go mid-division 5th, chased leader before 3 out until before 2 out, no extra, 3rd of 11, 37l behind Mac N Cheese (10-10) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp (4) hvy in Nov.
Falcon's Reign (FR) 100-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, lost place 4 out, headway on outer before next, soon challenged, one pace between last 2, 3rd and beaten when mistake last, 3rd of 14, 15 1/2l behind Perspicace (12-1) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp (4) gd in May.
Free Return (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) Behind, struggling 5 out, soon beaten, tailed off, 10th of 12, dist behind Rather Be (11-5) at Huntingdon 2m 4f (4) gs in Dec.
Alys Rock (IRE) 16-1 (11-1) Mid-division, not fluent 3rd, headway next, outpaced and no impression on leading pair on home bend, 4th of 11, 26 1/2l behind Presenting Julio (11-0) at Stratford 2m hcp (5) gd in Oct.
