held up in rear, headway after 2 out, shaken up to lead run-in, ran on strongly
tracked leaders in 3rd, went 2nd before 3 out, led before 2 out, headed before last, weakened run-in
in touch, blundered 10th, went 4th before 3 out, ridden after 3 out, soon outpaced
led, headed briefly before 8th, headed before 2 out, ridden after last, kept on
held up towards rear, blundered 8th, ridden and weakened before 10th, tailed off
mid-division, pushed along in 6th and looked held when blundered and unseated rider 2 out
tracked leader, blundered 10th, led briefly before 8th, ridden before 3 out led before last, headed run-in, kept on
held up towards rear, in touch before 5th, chased leaders 8th, blundered 11th, soon weakened, tailed off
Kandari has been placed in both runs so far over fences and would certainly have a chance in this while Ros Castle hasn't done a lot wrong over the larger obstacles, though has been raised a further 3lb since finishing second at Kelso. Both of Quite The Man's wins so far over fences have come at Perth but he's starting to look well handicapped again and showed a bit more in blinkers at Haydock last time and is preferred to Diamond Frontier, who has lost his way, and Alpha One, who has a bit to prove in this grade. CATEGORICAL has been below par so far this term but this is more his trip and he's undeniably well treated on his best form. We'll take the Reveley veteran to get back on track here.
Kandari (FR) 6-1 (11-0) In touch, headway to track leaders 5th, ridden and stumbled 3 out, plugged on, 3rd of 7, 23l behind Majala (11-0) at Taunton 2m beg chs (3) sft in Nov.
Quite The Man (IRE) 12-1 (11-3) Held up in rear, outpaced 5 out, headway 2 out, kept on to go modest 3rd after last, 3rd of 8, 33l behind Desert Cry (11-6) at Haydock 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in Dec.
Ros Castle (IRE) 2-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, challenged on outside 3 out, led narrowly next, soon ridden, mistake and headed narrowly last, kept on and every chance until no extra final 75 yards, 2nd of 6, 3 1/2l behind Sacre Toi (10-9) at Kelso 2m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (4) hvy in Dec.
Diamond Frontier (IRE) 9-4 (11-12) With leader, led after 2nd, reminders before 4 out, ridden and headed before last, weakened and lost 3rd run-in, last of 4, 13l behind Schinken Otto (10-4) at Sedgefield 2m hcp chs 0-120 (4) hvy in Jan.
Saveiro (FR) 16-1 (10-11) Tracked leader, behind from 5th tailed off 5 out, last of 5, 34l behind Dunowen Point (11-7) at Wetherby 2m hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft in Jan.
Alpha One (IRE) 9-2 (11-9) In touch when fell heavily 4 out, in a race won by Brave Spartacus (10-13) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp chs 0-120 (4) hvy in Jan, 6 ran.
Papa Caruso 8-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, quickly lost place and in rear 7th, tailed off 8th, pulled up 6 out, in a race won by Mcmurrough (11-12) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Dec, 9 ran.
Categorical 16-1 (10-10) Mid-division, not fluent 5th, headway 5 out, no impression from next, 7th of 11, 28l behind Handtheprizeover (9-8) at Doncaster 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Dec.
