close up, led 3rd, pressed and ridden after last, held on well towards finish
tracked leader, challenged 2 out, every from last, held towards finish
mid-division, headway 4 out, weakened from next
towards rear, ridden before 3 out, in 4th before last, one pace
chased leaders, pushed along before 4 out, soon lost place and dropped to rear
towards rear, headway 3 out, in 5th before last and no impression
led to 3rd, tracked leaders, ridden and weakened before 2 out
in touch, ridden and weakened before 2 out
in rear, good headway to chase leaders after 4 out, kept on in 3rd place before last
GRAN MAESTRO ran his best race for a very long time at Doncaster last month and is on a 13lb lower mark than over fences. With regular partner Ryan Winks claiming his 5lb he looks the one to be on. Walsingham Grange is on a 6lb lower mark than his last victory at Catterick in April but Perseid hasn't won for over a year and was beaten a long way at Hexham last time. The four-year-old First Up has the potential to do better but Coroberee hasn't been in the best of form and isn't certain to be suited by the conditions.
Gran Maestro (USA) 11-1 (10-11) Held up mid-division, headway from 2 out, kept on run-in, went 2nd towards finish, 2nd of 13, hd behind Castafiore (11-4) at Doncaster 2m 1f hcp (4) gd in Dec.
Walsingham Grange (USA) 7-2fav (12-2) Led, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 7, 2 1/2l behind Gin And Tonic (10-2) at Fakenham 2m hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Coroberee (IRE) 9-1 (9-11) Tracked leader until ridden over 3f out, weakened 2f out, 6th of 9, 28 1/2l behind Good Time Ahead (9-3) at Southwell 1m 6f hcp (5) pol in Dec.
Strike West (IRE) 10-1 (11-0) Close up when blundered badly and unseated rider 2nd, at Wetherby 2m hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Perseid (IRE) 11-2 (11-11) Chased leaders, under pressure 10th, stayed on after 2 out, never nearer, 3rd of 13, 32 1/4l behind Western Jo (11-11) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp (4) hvy in Oct.
First Up (IRE) 16-1 (9-5) Raced wide, close up, ridden over 1f out, stayed on towards finish, 3rd of 7, 2 1/4l behind Maratha (9-1) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (4) pol in Dec.
Skywards Reward (IRE) 16-1 (11-9) Chased leaders and keen, tracked leader 2nd, led approaching 7th until after 2 out, weakened soon after, 6th of 13, dist behind Wig Wam Wiggle (10-10) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp (5) hvy in Nov.
Jacarno 16-1 (10-9) In touch, ridden when brought down 2 out (usual 3 out), at Wetherby 2m hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Notebook 14-1 (11-0) Led from 2nd, headed 4th, tracked leaders, weakened before last, 6th of 13, 19 3/4l behind Oskar Denarius (10-5) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp (5) gs in Dec.
