prominent, took keen hold, leader well clear after 2nd, closed 3 out, soon ridden, weakened after next
chased leaders, ridden after 2 out, edged right flat, stayed on same pace
prominent, leader well clear after 2nd, closed 3 out, weakened before last
mid-division on inside, lost place before 2 out
mid-division, not fluent 4 out, outpaced before 3 out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, effort before 2 out, no impression
held up in rear, not fluent 2nd, headway before 3 out, edged right and went 4th flat, stayed on same pace
held up in rear, not fluent 3rd, ridden and hanging right after 3 out, never dangerous
tracked leaders on outside, lost place before 3 out, well beaten when mistake next
led 1st, clear when not fluent 2nd, continued to stretch advantage, 6 lengths ahead 3 out, headed flat, no extra towards finish
led until not fluent 1st, chased leaders, effort before last, led flat, ran on well, clear towards finish
held up towards rear, headway 3 out, hung left and every chance flat, not pace of winner towards finish
NonRunner
Old Guard defied a big weight to land this last year for Paul Nicholls but the three-year-old Cliffs Of Dover arrives from a different angle. There are only a couple below him in the weights and he's won three of his four hurdle starts, though was beaten fair and square by Nachi Falls on worse terms at Market Rasen. However, Nigel Hawke's juvenile was due to run yesterday at Newton Abbot. Tahira and Satellite may be capable of better but the latter, useful on the Flat, looked a lucky winner at Fontwell in August. Eddiemaurice and What A Scorcher will need more while Cyrius Moriviere's big weight may count against him. WISHFULL DREAMING was very impressive at Chepstow 12 days and has plenty in his favour again. Ciaran Gethings' claim almost halves his penalty and he should be too good for another penalised runner, Limerick winner Crystal Pearl.
Cyrius Moriviere (FR) 10-3 (11-10) Tracked leaders, led before 4 out, clear before last, won at Doncaster 2m 1f (4) gs in Jan beating Moabit (10-7) by 19l, 18 ran.
Wishfull Dreaming 4-1 (10-8) Took keen hold in touch, mistake 3rd, tracked leader next, led before 2 out, ran on strongly, won at Chepstow 2m hcp (2) gd in Oct beating My Manekineko (10-12) by 5l, 7 ran.
Purple 'n Gold (IRE) 11-1 (11-7) Towards rear, weakened from 5 out, 6th of 7, dist behind Belmount (11-2) at Hereford 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Prairie Town (IRE) 40-1 (8-11) Held up towards rear, pushed along 4f out, weakened over 2f out, 8th of 9, 22 1/4l behind Diamond Geyser (8-13) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp (4) pol in Oct.
Theatre Flame (IRE) 9-2 (10-12) Chased leader until after 1st, chased leading pair, not fluent next, pushed along and lost 3rd before 3 out, soon weakened quickly, last of 6, 27l behind Workbench (11-4) at Fontwell 2m 1f hcp (2) gd in Sep.
Tahira (GER) 11-8fav (10-12) Tracked leaders, led before 2 out, kept on well, won at Warwick 2m (4) gd in Sep beating Furiously Fast (10-12) by 6l, 12 ran.
Eddiemaurice (IRE) 11-4 (11-8) Mid-division, headway 5th, not much room when challenging 2 out, led last, clear flat, driven out, won at Worcester 2m hcp (4) gs in Jun beating Tiger Trek (11-9) by 2l, 8 ran.
Crystal Pearl 7-2 (11-3) Rear of mid-division, 6th at 3rd, progress to 5th 3 out, good headway to 3rd before 2 out, almost on terms 2 out, driven to lead before last, kept on strongly, comfortably, won at Limerick 2m hcp Yielding in Oct beating Hello Sweetie (10-8) by 5 1/2l, 10 ran.
Satellite (IRE) 5-6fav (11-5) Chased leader, 12 lengths down when left well clear 4 out, mistake 2 out, idled flat, ridden out, won at Fontwell 2m 2f (4) gf in Aug beating Trakeur (10-12) by 13l, 4 ran.
What A Scorcher 5-1 (11-12) Tracked leader and keen, led before 4th, clear before 2 out, stayed on strongly, won at Warwick 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in Sep beating Loves Destination (11-10) by 2 3/4l, 7 ran.
Cliffs Of Dover 11-8 (11-8) Raced keenly, tracked leading trio, left in 3rd place 2nd, 2nd after 3 out, challenged travelling well when left clear 2 out, won at Kempton 2m (3) gd in Oct beating Tasty Ginger (10-12) by 18l, 5 ran.
Ainslie (IRE) 14-1 (10-7) Soon raced in 8th, some slight mistakes, ridden to chase leaders straight, stayed on well run-in without reaching 1st 2, 3rd of 14, 1 1/4l behind William Du Berlais (11-4) at Fairyhouse 2m hcp gd in Oct.
Nachi Falls 9-2 (11-6) Tracked leaders, challenged 2 out, led flat, ran on well, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f (2) gd in Sep beating Hygrove Percy (11-6) by 1 3/4l, 7 ran.
