pressed leader, not fluent 4th, led after 3 out, headed and outpaced by winner flat
chased leaders, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out
held up, always in rear
led, jumped left 5th, headed after 3 out, weakened before next
held up towards rear, headway after 3 out, never on terms, outpaced 2 out, not fluent last, no extra flat
chased leaders, ridden and no impression on leaders before 2 out, stayed on same pace
mid-division, closed 4th, went 2nd before 2 out, led last, shaken up to assert flat, readily
held up, headway 3 out, weakened next
took keen hold, tracked leaders, lost place after 5th, weakened after 3 out
held up towards rear, headway approaching 2 out, no impression on leaders, stayed on same pace
held up in rear, some headway after 3 out, weakened before next
prominent until 3 out, weakened before next
MODUS looks an exciting prospect for hurdling having been purchased by J P McManus for £190,000 following a superb bumper career which saw him placed in the championship events at Cheltenham and Punchestown. He faces some promising types here but there will be some long faces if he's beaten. General Ginger is penalised for his victories at Kempton and Newton Abbot and didn't run well at Fontwell last time but David Pipe has an interesting contender in Iniciar, twice a winner on the Flat in France and a regular at Group level. Morthanalegend has a stout pedigree so he did well to land a Worcester bumper and Pengo's Boy was nowhere near his best when last seen in May.
General Ginger 4-1 (11-12) Tracked leader until approaching 3rd, chased leaders, mistake and lost place next, ridden and struggling before 2 out, 5th of 8, 27 1/4l behind Bigmartre (10-12) at Fontwell 2m 2f (4) gd in Oct.
Acajou Des Bieffes (FR) 8-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, pushed along over 4f out, modest headway over 2f out, never in contention, 6th of 9, 20 1/2l behind Copper Kay (11-0) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f (6) gs in Oct.
Berry De Carjac (FR) 200-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, headway after 2 out, never on terms, weakened before last, 5th of 11, 19 1/4l behind Charbel (10-12) at Stratford 2m (3) sft in Oct.
Dinky Challenger 12-1 (12-0) Prom til wknd 10; pu nxt, at Maisemore Park 2m 5f mdn gs in Mar.
Iniciar (GER) 14-1 (8-12) 11th of 12, 9 3/4l behind Baino Hope (8-9) at Saint-Cloud 1m 2f stks gd in May.
Miles To Milan (IRE) Milan gelding out of Princesse Rooney.
Modus 5-1fav (12-0) Held up towards rear early, mid-division in 8th halfway, progress into 5th 3f out, ridden in 2nd entering straight, no impression over 1f out, kept on same pace, lost 2nd close home, 3rd of 13, 4l behind Bellshill (12-0) at Punchestown 2m (1) Good - Yielding in Apr.
Morthanalegend 12-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, went 2nd over 2f out, soon challenging, ridden to lead over 1f out, edged left, driven out, won at Worcester 2m (6) gd in Jul beating Dusk Till Dawn (11-0) by 3/4l, 8 ran.
My Diamond (IRE) 200-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, well behind 6th, pulled up after, at Exeter 2m 6f (3) gs in Nov.
Pengo's Boy 5-2fav (11-0) Took keen hold tracking leading pair, 2nd on long run before 2nd until pushed along before 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 6th of 7, dist behind Sternrubin (10-10) at Exeter 2m 1f mdn (4) gd in May.
Up To Al (IRE) 5-2 (12-5) (tt) held up; prog to ld app 2 out; r.o wl, won at Hexham 2m 4f mdn gs in May beating Hands On Scarlet (11-12) by 6l, 4 ran.
Highridge Princess (IRE) 200-1 (10-10) Mid-division, struggling before 4 out, tailed off next, 5th of 13, dist behind Dry Ol'party (10-10) at Newton Abbot 2m 2f (4) gd in Sep.
Attractive Liason (IRE) 8-1 (10-10) Chased leaders, weakened after 9th, 5th of 9, dist behind Girly Girl (10-10) at Plumpton 2m 5f (4) gs in Nov.
