held up in touch, mistake 4th, ridden after next, outpaced by leaders before last
mid-division, hampered 2nd, lost place 4th, behind next, tailed off
tracked leaders, ridden approaching last, stayed on same pace final 150 yards
held up, headway after 4th, led after next, went right last, hung right flat, stayed on well
tracked leaders, blundered and unseated rider 2nd
towrads rear, hampered 2nd, ridden and behind 5th, tailed off and pulled up
pressed leader, led after 2nd, not fluent 5th, soon headed, not much room on bend soon after, weakened approaching last, tailed off
mid-division, weakened after 5th
held up towards rear, hampered 2nd, ridden and struggling after 5th, tailed off
led until after 2nd, weakened before 4th, tailed off
held up in rear, took keen hold, headway before 4th, mistake 5th, weakened approaching last
mid-division, headway 4th, every chance flat, held towards finish, stayed on same pace
JOHNS SPIRIT is consistent and gets the vote in a tricky opener as his Towcester conqueror, Gores Island, followed up under a penalty at Doncaster. Hat-trick-seeker Chesil Beach Boy is one of several C&D winners and should make his presence felt again, while Harry Hunt can't be ruled out despite top weight. Sun Quest's latest third at Taunton wasn't a bad effort and he's another with claims but Bathwick Brave is likely to find at least one too good again, despite a first-time visor. Dona may be the pick of the remainder.
Harry Hunt 40-1 (10-11) Jumped left, always last, outpaced and no chance from 4th, tailed off, last of 3, well behind Sprinter Sacre (11-6) at Kempton 2m nov chs Grade 2 (1) gd in Dec.
Dona 5-1 (10-11) Chased leadrs, dropped to rear 6th, never on terms after, 5th of 6, 28l behind State Benefit (11-0) at Exeter 2m 3f beg chase (4) sft.
Johns Spirit (IRE) 11-8fav (11-8) Held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, hit 2 out, led last, headed close home, 2nd of 11, 1/2l behind Gores Island (10-7) at Towcester 2m NH nov hdl 4-6yo (4) gs in Dec.
Chesil Beach Boy 11-10fav (11-5) Held up, took keen hold, headway 3rd, hung right from before 2 out, soon went 2nd, challenged last, led flat, clear towards finish, won at Wincanton 2m nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft beating Minella Special (11-3) by 2 1/4l, 6 ran.
Looks Like Slim 20-1 (10-0) Held up towards rear, good headway before 2 out, went 2nd 2 out, driven and lost 2nd approaching last, no impression when weakened to 4th final 100 yards, 4th of 15, 7l behind Ciceron (10-12) at Sandown 2m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) sft.
Bathwick Brave (IRE) 9-4 (11-0) Held up in 5th, headway to challenge after 4 out, led narrowly before 2 out, headed between last 2, ridden and kept on same pace flat, no impression when lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 6, 2 1/2l behind Sunny Ledgend (10-7) at Bangor 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gs.
Piroulet (FR) 7-1 (10-7) Pulled hard in mid-division, headway 4 out, chased leaders next, never on terms, 4th of 9, 38l behind Sydney Paget (10-12) at Bangor 2m 4f nh nov hdl (3) gs in Nov.
James Pollard (IRE) 25-1 (10-9) Held up towards rear, hampered 1st, headway after 5th, hit 3 out, weakened flat, 6th of 17, 20l behind Edgardo Sol (11-9) at Cheltenham 2m nov hcp hdl (3) gs in Nov.
Sun Quest 20-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, effort 2 out, every chance last, ridden and kept on same pace flat, 3rd of 15, 3 1/2l behind Drumshambo (11-11) at Taunton 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gs in Dec.
Is It Me (USA) 33-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, weakened approaching 6th, 8th of 9, 50l behind Double Handful (10-6) at Taunton 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs.
Dragon's Den (IRE) 33-1 (11-4) In touch, driven and outpaced approaching 2 out, kept on same pace approaching last, no impression, 4th of 15, 9l behind Drumshambo (11-11) at Taunton 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gs in Dec.
Minella Special (IRE) 8-1 (11-3) Led until after 2nd, led again before next, ridden and joined last, headed flat, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 6, 2 1/4l behind Chesil Beach Boy (11-5) at Wincanton 2m nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft.
