towards rear, mistake 1st, minor headway before 4 out, shaken up and weakened 3 out
mid-division, chased leaders 5 out, led before 3 out, shaken up approaching 2 out where good jump and forged away, stayed on well, heavily eased closing stages, readily
tracked leaders, lost position after 5th, soon in rear, pulled before 9th
in rear, mid-division after 9th, ridden and no progress 4 out
chased leaders, went 2nd after 9th, hit 11th, pressed leader before 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out where jumped right, kept on but always held by winner
close up, led 2nd, not fluent 9th, hit 5 out, pushed along and headed after 4 out, dropped away
tracked leaders, slow jump 2nd, hit 3rd and dropped to mid-division, in rear and reminders 8th, pulled before 4 out
mid-division, pushed along before 4 out, mistake next and soon beaten
rear mid-division, headway to chase leaders before 11th, ridden before 3 out, plugged on until weakened before last
towards rear, headway 4 out, pushed along and went 3rd before 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on run-in, not trouble winner
rear mid-division, pushed along in mid-division before 4 out, plugged on until weakened before 2 out
led, headed and tracked leader 2nd, pushed along and outpaced before 3 out, soon beaten
NonRunner
NonRunner
Slanelough, Gentle Frank and Prairie Wolf are all previous course winners. The latter will almost certainly improve on his third at Market Rasen and is preferred to stablemate The Paddy Pie. Kap Auteuil and Zestful Hope are both starting to look well treated but the latter was well behind Family Business and Maclaine at Huntingdon. Sporting Mike disappointed at Hereford and may need more time while Sageburg County appears to have two ways of running and has gone up 9lb for his latest win at Southwell. IMAC WOOD is still improving at the right end of the handicap so gets a tentative vote.
Sageburg County (IRE) 16-5 (11-11) Held up in last, switched right before 5th, closed when not fluent 12th, went 2nd 4 out, led 3 out, clear flat, easily, won at Southwell 2m 4f hcp (4) hvy in Nov beating Tom Creen (11-2) by 8l, 4 ran.
Prairie Wolf (IRE) 4-1 (11-8) Tracking leaders when not fluent and lost place 1st, rallied into 3rd at 7th, hit 4 out, went 2nd before 3 out, no chance with winner when lost 2nd run-in, plugged on, 3rd of 6, 10l behind The Same (11-7) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Slanelough (IRE) 33-1 (11-6) Prominent, led 4th, headed 5 out, lost position and weakened from 4 out, 8th of 10, 21 1/2l behind Whodini (11-3) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Sporting Mike (IRE) 4-1cfav (11-12) Towards rear, some headway 4 out, ridden 3 out, weakened 2 out, 6th of 7, 26l behind School Days Over (11-6) at Hereford 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Maclaine 5-2 (12-0) Close up in rear, lost ground 4 out, plugged on, never on terms, 4th of 5, 18 3/4l behind Mylesfromwicklow (11-13) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Kap Auteuil (FR) 9-2 (12-0) Tracked leaders, pushed along before 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 6, dist behind Hardy Fella (12-0) at Fontwell 2m 3f hcp (4) hvy in Nov.
Family Business (FR) 12-1 (11-13) Chased leaders, in rear but in touch at 5th, went 3rd after 3 out, pushed along home turn, mistake 2 out and plugged on same pace, 3rd of 5, 11 1/4l behind Mylesfromwicklow (11-13) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Zestful Hope (FR) 6-1 (11-12) Close up in rear, raced in 3rd at 4th, hit 12th, lost position after 3 out, well beaten when blundered last, last of 5, 23 3/4l behind Mylesfromwicklow (11-13) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Pearly Island 5-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders on inside, not fluent 2nd, weakened 4 out, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out, at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Imac Wood (FR) 11-2 (11-12) Held up towards rear, good headway on inside before before 3 out, switched right to challenge last, led run-in, stayed on well, won at Hereford 2m 5f hcp (5) gd in Nov beating Ballinoulart (10-5) by 2l, 12 ran.
Ritson (IRE) 18-1 (12-0) Held up in rear, not fluent 7th, ridden before 8th, outpaced 9th, tailed off 3 out, last of 9, dist behind Bollingerandkrug (11-4) at Kelso 2m 1f hcp (4) gs in Mar.
The Paddy Pie (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, ridden after 12th, soon dropped away tamely and pulled up, at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
One Fine Man (IRE) 33-1 (11-7) Mid-division, not fluent 5th or 7th, ridden home turn, dropped away omitted 2 out, 7th of 9, dist behind Djelo (11-12) at Aintree 2m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Gentle Frank 4-1 (12-0) Keen in rear, pushed along and headway 13th, ridden and no impression from 3 out, 4th of 7, 35l behind Gaboriot (11-12) at Doncaster 3m hcp (4) gd in Nov.
