mid-division, weakened after 15th, soon beaten
tracked leader, disputed lead from 14th, led outright 4 out until headed next, soon ridden and no extra
led, headed 4 out, ridden and led again next, kept on gamely
prominent, soon tracked leaders, hit 7th, disputing 3rd when fell 12th
held up, headway to track leaders 15th, every chance 3 out, soon ridden, hit and lost 2nd place at last
held up, hit 7th and 9th, lost touch from 13th, pulled up before 3 out
held up, hit 2nd and 11th, lost touch from 13th
Stavordale Lad is nominated ahead of Whispered Secret and Ever Present. Stavordale Lad is not the speediest individual by any stretch of the imagination but he does stay stoutly and jump well. Paul Nicholls has been very patient with the eight-year-old but a step up in trip should suit and he has all the ticks in the right boxes. Whispered Secret only made it to the first fence at the Grand National. He has solid form over the trip and appears to act on any going - his fencing is not the greatest and backers should not be counting their money until the last is safely negotiated. Ever Present dotted up in a beginners chase over course-and-distance. This is a much more competitive race but the stable has sent out winners at the meeting already and any market move is noted. Kinburn accounted for Pass Me By when the pair met at Carlisle. Howard Johnson's charge has not been seen since. See You There has ability but appears to need it much softer than forecast. Stavordale Lad looks to be finally finding his feet at the winter game and he is accordingly nominated.
Whispered Secret (GER) 100-1 (10-12) Mistake and unseated rider 1st in race won by Numbersixvalverde (10-8) at Aintree 4m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs, 40 ran.
Mckelvey (IRE) 16-1 (10-5) Mid-division when blundered and unseated rider at the 2nd in race won by State of Play (10-2) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp chs (2) gd, 18 ran.
Kinburn (IRE) 3-1 (11-12) Jumped left throughout, made all, ridden approaching last, stayed on under pressure flat, won at Carlisle 3m nov hcp chs 0-120 (3) hvy in Jan beating Pass Me By (10-12) by 6l, 8 ran.
Stavordale Lad (IRE) 13-2 (11-7) Made all, ridden and not fluent 3 out, soon clear, just held on, won at Newbury 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Mar beating Beauchamp Prince (10-9) by a shd, 10 ran.
No Full (FR) 14-1 (10-4) Held up in rear, never in contention, 9th of 18, 35l behind Reveillez (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hcp chs (1) gd in Mar.
Waltzing Beau 6-1 (11-1) Always in touch, not fluent 7th, one pace from 3 out, 4th of 8, 15l behind Chilling Place (11-6) at Exeter 2m 3f nov chs (3) gs.
See You There (IRE) 13-8fav (11-1) Tracked leaders, hit 6th, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened last, 3rd of 8, 10l behind Dark Ben (11-1) at Kelso 3m 1f beg chs (4) gs in Mar.
Pass Me By 3-1 (11-2) Tracked leader, led 3 out, kept on well from next, won at Carlisle 3m nov chs (3) sft beating Russian Sky (10-11) by 5l, 9 ran.
Ever Present (IRE) 10-11fav (11-3) Tracked leader, led 5th, ridden approaching 3 out, held on well, won at Ayr 3m 1f beg chs (4) sft in Mar beating See You There (11-0) by 3/4l, 6 ran.
