held up in touch, headway 13th, led 2 out, mistake last, stayed on well
held up in touch, weakened approaching 4 out
tracked leaders, under pressure 4 out, soon outpaced, stayed on towards last
in touch when mistake and unseated rider 1st
held up, headway 4 out, chased leaders next, hard ridden approaching 2 out, stayed on well flat, not reach winner
pulled hard in rear, headway before 3 out, never able to challenge
led 4th, mistake and headed 10th, soon driven, weakened 15th, pulled up before 4 out
behind, reminders 8th, never dangerous
led until 4th, remained prominent, chased leaders approaching 3 out, soon weakened
soon held up in mid-division, weakened 4 out
prominent, led 10th, jumped left and headed 2 out, weakened quickly
Winning pointer and hunter chaser Noakarad De Verzee has to be respected in a handicap, having run well when finishing a close third behind Peut Etre Sivola at Chepstow last month, as does Colin Tizzard's recent Stratford winner Skipper's Lad but a 7lb rise for that makes this tougher and it may be worth siding with PURE GENIUS. David Pipe's mare lacks any chasing experience but she is well treated on her hurdles form, is bred for fences and is sure to have been well schooled. David Pipe has his team coming into form now so Pure Genius could be ready for this on her reappearance. Venetia Williams has had plenty of winners of late so Plein Pouvoir has to be respected but he needs to improve on his reappearance effort to trouble the judge. Brendan Powell's Plane Painter has run better in his last two starts but looks a shade high in the weights, while Tom George's River Ripples has paid the penalty for his win at Stratford in July and has gone up another 1lb following his placed effort at Towcester earlier this month. Jamie Snowden's Knighton Combe has shown decent form in points and in hunter chases last season and is less exposed than most of these so is another that cannot be discounted but it may be worth siding with the chasing newcomer Pure Genius.
Knighton Combe 5-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, ridden 4 out, weakened next, 6th of 9, 26l behind Chorizo (10-8) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gf in Jul.
Plein Pouvoir (FR) 10-1 (11-4) Led 3rd to 4 out, weakened 2 out, 7th of 13, 37l behind Gentle Ranger (11-11) at Exeter 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs.
Noakarad De Verzee (FR) 12-1 (11-2) Behind, steady headway from 11th, well in touch 5 out, chased leaders 3 out, driven and stayed on under pressure flat, not quite reach front pair, 3rd of 12, 1 1/4l behind Peut Etre Sivola (10-9) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Oct.
Plane Painter (IRE) 11-1 (11-4) Led, ridden, headed after 14th, beaten before 4 out, disputing 2nd when left clear in that position 2 out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 4, 25l behind Hunters Ploy (11-4) at Exeter 3m beg chs (3) gd in Oct.
Skipper's Lad (IRE) 11-4 (10-10) In touch, closed to lead 4 out, ridden approaching last, driven out (no time taken), won at Stratford 3m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Oct beating Go West (10-11) by 1l, 7 ran.
Flaco (IRE) 7-2 (11-2) Mid-division, hampered 3rd, in touch halfway, ridden from 3 out, one pace when blundered last, 4th of 16, 19l behind Classic Cut (11-2) at Kelso 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Pure Genius (IRE) 3-1fav (11-4) Led, ridden and headed soon after 2 out, weakened before last, 7th of 14, 13l behind Runaround Sue (10-6) at Hereford 2m 4f mrs hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gf in Jun.
Aldiruos (IRE) 6-1 (11-0) Held up, headway on outside, when mistake 4 out, weakened next, 7th of 11, 40l behind Kealshore Boy (11-6) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Oct.
River Ripples (IRE) 14-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, jumped left 2nd, challenged 4 out, led after 3 out, ridden, headed 2 out, no extra flat, 2nd of 10, 6l behind Cartier Opera (10-0) at Towcester 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs.
Sarahs Gift (IRE) 14-1 (10-9) Held up towards rear, not fluent 2nd, mistake next, headway 13th, disputing 4th and in touch when blundered 3 out, soon weakened, went modest 3rd flat, 3rd of 9, 22l behind Shillingstone (11-5) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd.
Senor Shane (IRE) 10-1 (11-3) Held up towards rear, hampered 1st, hit 8th, stayed on from 2 out, never dangerous, 4th of 10, 19l behind Midnight Haze (11-4) at Kempton 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd.
