tracked leading trio, went 3rd 9th, went 2nd before 3 out, driven and no impression before last, kept on same pace flat
stumbled 1st, tracked leading pair, pushed along and dropped to rear after 8th, headway 14th, went 2nd next, led approaching 4 out, stayed on well from 3 out, driven out
held up in rear, headway to track leaders 6th, blundered and dropped to rear 14th, pushed along and rallied after 4 out, to 3rd before 3 out, one pace and no impression before next
led until hit 3rd and headed, chased leaders, pushed along after 11th, mistake 12th, lost 2nd 15th, chased leaders, weakened after 4 out
took keen hold tracking leader, led narrowly 3rd, headed approaching 4 out, pushed along and lost 2nd well before next, outpaced in 4th when awkward on home turn
CATEGORICAL has won from a higher mark than this in the past and looked back to something like his best at Aintree last time when a close third to Jamsie Hall in a much better race than this. He'll take some beating from the same mark here. O'Callaghan Strand hasn't run well on his two starts since returning from a break though he's only 6lb higher than his victory at Ludlow in January. Honest John completed a double at this time a year ago, though he's been jumping poorly subsequently, and Everaard likes a flat track and quick ground so today's conditions should enable him to get involved.
O'callaghan Strand (AUS) 7-1 (11-11) Held up in touch, driven to chase leaders before 4 out, soon no impression, weakened from next, 5th of 8, 24l behind Plein Pouvoir (11-12) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs in Nov.
Nodform Richard 7-1 (11-5) Held up mid-division, dropped rear before 10th, pushed along 12th, weakened 5 out, last of 7, well behind Royale Knight (10-0) at Kelso 3m 2f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gf in May.
Categorical 12-1 (10-0) Held up in rear, jumped right and hampered 1st, jumped slowly 5th, not fluent 10th, mistake 13th, stayed on from 2 out, went 3rd approaching last, no impression close home, 3rd of 7, 1 1/2l behind Jamsie Hall (11-5) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Oct.
Everaard (USA) 9-1 (11-6) Led, pushed along before 8th, soon headed and weakened, soon pulled up, in a race won by Solway Bay (10-4) at Perth 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in Jul, 8 ran.
Noble Witness (IRE) 33-1 (11-2) Tracked leader until led after 1st, headed before 9th, lost 2nd after 3 out, soon beaten, 4th of 6, 46l behind Connectivity (11-4) at Southwell 3m clm hdl (5) sft in Nov.
Honest John 6-1 (11-0) Held up, blundered and unseated rider 12th, in a race won by Italian Master (11-12) at Market Rasen 3m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Nov, 10 ran.
