tracked leaders, led 3rd, headed 9th, blundered next, fell 13th
led to 3rd, close up when fell 7th
held up, led 9th, under pressure when hit 2 out, ridden approaching last, kept on
chased leaders, every chance 3 out, ridden approaching next, weakened after last
tracked leaders, chased winner approaching 4 out, ridden and every chance next, one pace from last
held up in touch, ridden and lost place from 5 out
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Bob Ar Aghaidh, Silver Knight and Malek form the shortlist, with the vote going to Silver Knight. Malek is five pounds above a winning mark, but Gingerbread House has something to prove for us at present. Raised eight pounds for a Stratford win, Bob Ar Aghaidh has always struck us as a decent stayer, and he can still go well again, while an eight-pounds rise for his Carlisle win may not stop Silver Knight, who looked on the way back to his best form from 2003 there, which would be good enough. If so, he's got a good chance. You'Re Special was behind him there, while Harrovian is also six pounds above a winning mark but he too is a young stayer with a future and warrants respect. Jungle Jinks is now below the mark from which he won at Haydock last season so can be fancied on that basis, as can Shannon's Pride who is also back to a winning mark from last year. All in all, it adds up to an intriguing race, in which the vote goes to Silver Knight.
Gingerbread House (IRE) 6-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, chased winner from 12th, weakened quickly from 5 out, 4th of 7, 32l behind Control Man (11-13) at Exeter 3m 1f nov chs (C) gs in Jan.
Bob Ar Aghaidh (IRE) 9-2fav (11-12) Led to 3rd, led 6th to 10th, led after 12th, stayed on well from 2 out, won at Stratford 3m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (D) sft in Oct beating Jiver (11-7) by 2 1/2l, 10 ran.
Silver Knight 11-2 (10-6) Held up in touch, ridden and outpaced 5 out, rallied 3 out, led last, driven out, won at Carlisle 3m hcp chs 0-135 (C) sft in Nov beating Miss Mattie Ross (9-9) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Harrovian 8-1 (11-4) Held up, hampered 5 out, no impression after, 6th of 9, 32l behind Sharp Belline (10-2) at Wetherby 2m 7f hcp chs 0-125 (D) gs in Nov.
Jungle Jinks (IRE) 3-1fav (11-2) With leader, driven and out paced approaching 4f out, ridden next, kept on to chase winner 2f out, no impression flat, 2nd of 6, 11l behind Mckelvey (11-12) at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp chs 0-130 (C) sft in Nov.
Shannon's Pride (IRE) 20-1 (10-3) Chased leaders, went 2nd 16th, ridden and stayed on from last, 3rd of 23, 7l behind Hakim (10-12) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs 0-130 (C) gs in Nov.
Malek (IRE) 9-2 (10-4) In touch, led 3rd, mistake 8th, headed next, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Kock De La Vesvre (10-4) at Perth 3m hcp chs (B) sft in Apr, 9 ran.
You're Special (USA) 7-1 (10-12) Tracked leader until lost place 11th, 6th of 9, well behind Silver Knight (10-6) at Carlisle 3m hcp chs 0-135 (C) sft in Nov.
