held up, headway after 3 out, ridden next, left in lead after last, driven out
led, headed 8th, hampered 11th, weakened approaching 2 out
in touch, weakening when blundered 2 out
held up, jumped slow 8th and 9th, soon weakened, tailed off
held up in touch, lost place when mistake 11th
behind from 9th, soon struggling, pulled up before 3 out
in rear, headway approaching 2 out, one pace
chased leader, hit 7th, led 8th, jumped right 10th, headed 11th, weakened approaching 2 out
chased leaders, blundered 7th, led 11th, headed after 2 out, kept on
in touch, ridden and lost place after 8th
chased leaders, ridden after 10th, weakened approaching last
towards rear, headway 3 out, led after 2 out, half a length up when fell last
mid-division, headway 10th, hampered when left 2nd after last, one pace
Saunders Road, Cornish Jester and Kalmo Bay look to be the trio against the field, while Noble Sham is also respected and we will side with Saunders Road. The Philip Hobbs-trained selection is back on his most recent winning mark after being beaten from a 9lbs higher mark last time. Trip and ground suit and with a clear round he looks the one to be on. Noble Sham is interesting pitched straight into handicap company on his chasing debut by David Pipe. He won a novices' hurdle at Worcester a couple of years back and was then off the track until finishing tailed off at Bangor in a handicap hurdle last month. Presumably he will come on for the run but even with major market confidence it would be risky investing this time. Cornish Jester is another chase debutante here and on a line through The Tother One could have the measure of the selection, though differing ground in those runs means that they are not for comparing literally. Kalmo Bay is from a yard that continues to go well and any improvement would give him every chance, while Lost In Normandy would ideally prefer better ground and more of a trip, so Saunders Road is taken to score.
Saunders Road (IRE) 12-1 (10-7) Took keen hold, mid-division, hit 4 out, headway approaching 2 out, blundered last, one pace flat, 4th of 18, 14l behind The Tother One (10-8) at Sandown 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) hvy.
Lyon 20-1 (11-0) Towards rear, hit 5th and reminders, lost touch 9th, tailed off when unseated rider at the last in race won by Marked Man (11-9) at Hereford 2m 3f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Nov, 8 ran.
Cornish Jester 33-1 (10-9) Mid-division, headway to lead 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, headed flat, no chance with winner, 2nd of 10, 3/4l behind The Tother One (10-12) at Exeter 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Heavy Weather (IRE) 2-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, mistakes 6th and 10th, went 2nd 4 out, every chance 3 out, ridden when hampered 2 out, weakened last, 2nd of 5, 11l behind Magnetic Pole (11-4) at Bangor 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Mar.
Mr Tim (IRE) 5-1 (11-1) Raced keenly, mid-division, hit 4th, weakened approaching 11th, 6th of 9, 41l behind Mortimers Cross (10-7) at Uttoxeter 3m nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
It's Blue Chip 5-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, reminders and lost place 8th, soon behind and pulled up 4 out in race won by Square Mile (11-6) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f nov chs (4) sft in May, 9 ran.
Kalmo Bay (FR) 3-1jt-fav (11-3) Towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, chasing leaders 2 out, no extra approaching last, 5th of 9, 15l behind Just For Men (11-2) at Hexham 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Nov.
The Nomad 50-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, lost place 4 out, 8th of 14, 32l behind Cloudmor (11-12) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Nov.
Noble Sham 14-1 (11-7) Chased leader, pushed along approachign 4th, soon weakened, tailed off, 10th of 12, well behind Palomar (11-2) at Bangor 2m 1f cnd hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs in Nov.
Young Smokey (IRE) 12-1 (10-5) Chased leaders, ridden 3 out, weakened from 2 out, 4th of 5, 19l behind Sparkling Taff (10-10) at Ayr 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-115 (3) gf in Apr.
Lost In Normandy (IRE) 4-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, pushed along approaching 12th, soon behind, 4th of 7, 29l behind Ballito (10-0) at Musselburgh 3m cnd hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd.
Chicago Alley 33-1 (11-12) Towards rear, mistake 5th, headway 4 out, held when fell at the last in race won by Never So Blue (11-9) at Hereford 2m nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs, 11 ran.
Day du Roy (FR) 16-1 (10-10) Behind, struggling 8th, no chance when blundered last, 6th of 9, 41l behind Emperor's Monarch (10-4) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs.
