chased leaders, ridden after 4 out, weakened before 2 out
held up mid-division, reminders after 9th and towards rear, soon tailed off
held up towards rear, headway before 6th, went 3rd from 5 out, went 2nd before 4 out, ridden before 2 out, kept on same pace
soon in rear, pushed along before 5th, never dangerous
led to 3rd, tracked leaders, went 2nd from 8th, ridden and outpaced before 4 out, kept on same pace
towards rear, reminder 2nd, ridden before 6 out, soon weakened, tailed off, pulled up
held up mid-division, headway before 4 out, went 2nd before 3 out, kept on and always held
with leader, led 3rd, made rest, clear before last, kept on well
It's no surprise that Seamus Mullins brings HEAD SPIN (NAP) out quickly under a penalty as he could hardly have been more impressive when beating three rivals at Plumpton last week. He'll go up by much more than the 7lb penalty he carries and should win again. Upton Mead has won six times over fences but has been struggling at the weights since his last success at Plumpton in January. It's a very long time since Coolbeg won a race and he's yet to prove he stays this far on testing ground. Osmosia likes it here and gained a comfortable victory over an extra couple of furlongs in October but she wouldn't want much more rain. Morestead pops up occasionally, often on this track, though he's been running very poorly.
Upton Mead (IRE) 6-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, went 3rd before 3 out, stayed on and ridden from last, just held for 2nd close home, 3rd of 5, 8l behind Sportsreport (10-10) at Lingfield 2m hcp 0-100 (5) hvy in Nov.
Coolbeg (IRE) 3-1fav (11-5) Held up towards rear, weakened from 5 out, 5th of 8, 19l behind Riddleofthesands (11-1) at Ffos Las 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Nov.
Head Spin (IRE) 2-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, headway before 10th, led before 2 out, soon clear, won at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp 0-100 (5) sft beating Alright Benny (11-11) by 16l, 4 ran.
Osmosia (FR) 7-2 (11-3) Tracked leading pair in 4th, pushed along and outpaced after 8th, reminder before 4 out, plugged on into modest 3rd close home, 3rd of 4, 34l behind Ballydague Lady (11-7) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (5) hvy in Nov.
Morestead (IRE) 4-1 (11-5) Chased winner, niggled along and lost 2nd before 6th, lost 3rd after 9th, never on terms after, tailed off, last of 4, 43l behind The Omen (11-0) at Lingfield 2m 4f hcp 0-100 (5) sft in Nov.
Petit Ecuyer (FR) 16-1 (11-7) Always behind, reminders early, behind when refused last, in a race won by Midnight Diamond (11-3) at Fakenham 3m hcp chs 0-100 (5) gd in Jun, 9 ran.
Bob Will (IRE) 17-2 (10-0) Held up in touch, ridden before 3 out, not fluent and one pace in 3rd 2 out, no extra last, 3rd of 8, 14l behind Ballyegan (9-10) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp 0-100 (5) sft in Nov.
Sitting Back (IRE) 10-1 (10-1) Chased clear leading pair, trying to close when blundered 4 out, stayed on same pace from 2 out, 3rd of 6, 10l behind Alright Benny (10-8) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp 0-100 (5) gd in Oct.
