chased leading pair, dived at 2nd, not fluent 6th, not fluent again and lost place 10th, pushed along before 11th, weakened soon after
held up in last trio, hampered 7th, headway 11th, stayed on into modest 3rd before 2 out
held up in 5th, dropped to last trio 6th, slightly hampered next, headway chasing leaders 10th, 3rd 4 out, 2nd after 3 out, one pace and no chance with winner before 2 out, kept on for clear 2nd
tracked leading trio, 2nd 11th, led 3 out, clear before next, hit last, very easily
jumped slowly 1st, held up in last pair, some headway approaching 9th, weakened approaching 4 out, in last pair when mistake 3 out, pulled up and dismounted before next
led until 10th, lost 2nd next, lost 3rd 4 out, soon struggling, plugged on in modest 4th
chased leader, led 10th, headed 3 out, lost 2nd soon after, weakened before next
in rear, awkward 4th, tailed off 4 out, pulled up before last
Lysino is admirably consistent but has been beaten a few times when looking a likely winner. That certainly didn't occur at Worcester where he sauntered home in a weak race for which he's been hammered by the assessor to the tune of 15lb. Al Alfa has won three times over fences but is 10lb higher than his last victory in January and was beaten a long way on his reappearance. Rum And Butter completed a hat-trick in novice company and though well beaten in two subsequent starts it was at a much higher level. King Edmund isn't particularly consistent but is back on his last winning mark as is FAIRY RATH and it's the latter who is handed the vote. He hasn't had much racing over the past couple of years but has won three times over fences including on this track and looks on a fair mark.
Rum And Butter (IRE) 14-1 (11-1) Tracked leader, lost place after 4 out, behind from next, tailed off, 11th of 12, 44l behind Mart Lane (10-9) at Market Rasen 2m 6f listed hcp chs (1) gd in Sep.
Drumshambo (USA) 14-1 (11-2) Held up mid-division, weakened from 5 out, pulled up, in a race won by Grey Gold (11-8) at Chepstow 2m hcp chs (2) sft in Oct, 12 ran.
King Edmund 9-1 (11-10) Held up in touch in mid-division, bumped 1st, ridden before 3 out, weakened next, 6th of 10, 25l behind Bertie Boru (10-12) at Stratford 2m 4f hcp chs 0-140 (3) gs in Oct.
Niceonefrankie 12-1 (10-1) Tracked leaders, lost place and reminders after 9th, behind from 11th, pulled up next, in a race won by No Planning (10-6) at Haydock 3m hcp chs (2) gd in Apr, 11 ran.
Lysino (GER) 7-4fav (11-11) Chased leaders, went 2nd 5th, hit 8th, led before 3 out, drew clear from 2 out, went left last, comfortably, won at Worcester 2m hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs in Oct beating Fishoutofwater (11-2) by 18l, 6 ran.
Al Alfa 4-1fav (11-8) Close up, blundered 1st, led before 6th, headed 9th, weakened before 2 out, 5th of 10, 27l behind Hollow Penny (11-7) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Oct.
Fairy Rath (IRE) 12-1 (11-8) Mid-division, ridden 4 out, soon beaten, 3rd of 9, 16l behind Noble Legend (11-8) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Dec.
Pilgrims Lane (IRE) 28-1 (11-12) Held up behind in touch, struggling 7th, tailed off 5 out, pulled up before next, in a race won by The Romford Pele (11-8) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Jun, 7 ran.
