tracked leaders, jumped slowly 4th, chased leader 7th until 9th, mistake next, hit 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
held up towards rear on outside, headway 11th, went 2nd after 2 out, challenged flat, stayed on well
chased leader until 7th, soon ridden, lost place 9th, soon struggling
chased leaders on outside, ridden after 4 out, weakened approaching 3 out
held up in rear, headway 9th, went 3rd approaching 2 out, beaten after last, one pace
held up in rear, headway when not fluent 8th, not fluent next, soon lost place, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
chased leaders, lost place approaching 5th, progess to chase leader 9th, led approaching 2 out, headed flat, no extra towards finish
led, clear after 4th until 7th, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, weakened last
Not easy to rule any of these out and DOUBLE VODKA is our order with Lease Lend and De Boitron likely to give him plenty to think about. Chris Grant's charge knows his way around Catterick and won well in a novice chase earlier in the year. Trip and going suit and he should be capable of running another sound race. Lease Lend has not been the easiest to win with. This is a stronger race than the contest he won earlier in the month but in fairness, he showed plenty of guts in the finish and that should have been a major positive for connections. De Boitron steps up in trip having taken his chances at Doncaster over the minimum trip. He does tend to show his better form at this time of the season so any market move for the course-and-distance winner should not be ignored. Flake takes the odd chance at his fences but he is a thoroughly likeable individual and is likely to lead them from the rise of the tapes. Some Touch won at Wetherby and Carlisle. He has taken a fair hike up the weights for those labours and might just be one to watch on his reappearance from absence. Carrietau is in receipt of lumps of weight. A winner over two miles; whether the step up in trip is in his interests is debatable. Storymaker and Ouste have it to do. Course form can count for plenty at Catterick and we are happy to cheer on Double Vodka.
Some Touch (IRE) 6-1 (11-6) Made all, driven out, won at Carlisle 2m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gf in Oct beating Nudge And Nurdle (11-3) by 2 1/4l, 8 ran.
Lease Lend 15-2 (11-12) Held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, led last, driven out, won at Catterick 2m 3f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs beating I'm Your Man (10-3) by 1 1/2l, 11 ran.
Flake 7-1 (10-6) In touch, outpaced 4 out, no impression from next, 7th of 10, 16l behind Sa Suffit (11-7) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs 0-150 (2) sft.
Double Vodka (IRE) 11-1 (11-4) Tracked winner to after 5 out, soon outpaced, rallied when mistake 3 out, kept on same pace, no impression, 4th of 8, 17l behind Fiendish Flame (11-4) at Musselburgh 2m 4f nov stks (3) gs.
De Boitron (FR) 4-1 (11-6) In rear, chased leaders approaching 5 out, ridden approaching 3 out, one pace from next, 3rd of 8, 6l behind Bleak House (11-7) at Doncaster 2m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Jan.
Ouste (FR) 16-1 (10-7) Behind, jumped slowly 9th, no chance in rear when blundered 4 out, tailed off when blundered last, 8th of 12, well behind Qhilimar (10-11) at Newbury 2m 6f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Jan.
Storymaker 17-2 (11-3) Held up, ridden approaching 5 out, weakened next, 7th of 11, 32l behind Newman Des Plages (11-2) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Nov.
Carrietau 4-1 (10-9) Led, headed after 4 out, ridden next, one pace, 2nd of 9, 6l behind Ockey De Neulliac (10-12) at Catterick 2m nov chs 0-115 (4) gs.
