prominent, ridden and every chance 4 out, left 4th 2 out, kept on
mid-division, ridden and steady progress from 4 out, hampered 2 out, stayed on
3rd, prominent, ridden after 4 out, weakened after next
always behind
keen early, tracked leaders until lost place 7th, ridden and headway after 4 out, no further impression from 2 out
some late progress, mainly towards rear
in touch, ridden after 4 out, left 2nd 2 out, kept on same pace
always behind
tracked leaders, led after 4 out, left clear 2 out, comfortably
mid-division, headway approaching 4 out, staying on, 2nd when fell 2 out
always behind, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
mid-division until weakened after 7th, tailed off
held up towards rear, headway 6th, ridden approaching 4 out, stayed on from 2 out, went 2nd last, no chance with winner
mid-division, ridden after 5th, weakened 7th, tailed off
tracked leaders, ridden approaching 4 out, weakened 3 out
held up behind, ridden and kept on same pace from 3 out, never troubled leaders
led and hit 3rd, ridden when hung left and headed after 4 out, left 3rd and badly hampered 2 out, not recover
Nonrunner
A tough race to call here for punters with very little between many of the leading lights but the main protagonists look to be Lenny The Blade, Bobby Donald and Wild Tonto and the narrow vote is given to Bobby Donald. The selection was caught on the line last time out by Paco but with this slightly shorter trip sure to suit he looks a value bet in an open affair. Lenny The Blade rates the main danger as he beat Rudivale in good style last time out. He enters handicaps off what looks a fair mark and he should be watched in the market. Wild Tonto won well last time out when beating Double Header but this looks tougher and he will need to improve again if he is to win off this higher mark. Nemetan won a chase in good style last time out when beating Kew Jumper and returns to hurdles on a fair mark so should be watched in the market. Of the remainder, Lord Lieutenant could go well off his light weight while it would be no surprise to see Great Tsar improve for this better ground but for the winner we are happy to return to Bobby Donald.
Underwriter (USA) 3-1 (11-2) Chased winner, outpaced after 3 out, rallied under pressure last, stayed on flat, 2nd of 7, 3 1/2l behind Bubble Boy (11-2) at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Nov.
Mister Wiseman 14-1 (11-1) Chased leaders, weakened approaching 2 out, 5th of 14, 31l behind Kings Rock (10-11) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd.
Gallant Hero 33-1 (11-8) In touch, ridden after 5th, soon weakened, hampered next, 11th of 16, 45l behind Dovedale (11-0) at Exeter 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd.
Ask The Umpire (IRE) 20-1 (10-7) Mid-division, headway 5th, driven and outpaced 7th, 7th of 12, 35l behind Ask The Gatherer (10-7) at Towcester 2m 3f sll hdl (5) gd.
Wild Tonto (IRE) 8-1 (10-2) Keen in mid-division, headway 4th, ridden to lead approaching last, hung left run-in, driven out, won at Taunton 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs beating Double Header (10-11) by 1 1/2l, 13 ran.
Killing Me Softly 14-1 (11-12) Led, ridden and headed after 3f out, soon one pace, 5th of 16, 16l behind Wotchalike (11-9) at Wincanton 2m 4f cnd hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft in Mar.
Goodnight Tom 16-1 (10-0) Held up, ridden and struggling approaching 4 out, soon lost touch, tailed off, last of 8, well behind Scots Dragoon (10-11) at Ascot 3m cnd hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd.
Great Tsar (IRE) 6-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, every chance 3 out, soon ridden, weakened quickly, 11th of 13, well behind Wild Tonto (10-2) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs.
Pearly Star 9-2 (9-10) Chased leaders until weakened after 3 out, 4th of 6, 17l behind Spider Boy (9-9) at Plumpton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd.
Lenny The Blade 12-1 (10-8) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 5th, led approaching 2 out, clear last, ran on well, won at N Abbot 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Mar beating Rudivale (11-9) by 7l, 14 ran.
Thenford Snipe (IRE) 50-1 (10-7) Held up and behind, raced keenly, mistake 4th, never dangerous, 8th of 14, 35l behind Pop (11-7) at Towcester 2m nov hdl (4) gd.
Twice Charmed 33-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, weakened 2 out, 11th of 15, 21l behind Atomic Winner (10-13) at Ludlow 2m nov hdl (5) gd.
Nemetan (FR) 3-1co-fav (10-6) Tracked leaders, ridden and outpaced after 4 out, staying on when not fluent 2 out, rallied to lead last, won at Kempton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Mar beating Kew Jumper (11-1) by 4 1/2l, 6 ran.
Brilliant (GER) 5-1 (10-11) In touch, headway after 4th, ridden and every chance 3 out, weakened 2 out, 3rd of 5, 16l behind Ede's (11-0) at Plumpton 2m hdl 0-90 (5) sft in Mar.
Colditz (IRE) 12-1 (10-8) Chased leaders, outpaced 5th, headway under pressure after 3 out, went 9 lengths 2nd next, ridden and kept on from last to lead towards finish, won at Sedgefield 2m 4f sll hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs beating Dippy Duck (10-10) by 1l, 10 ran.
Risk Challenge (USA) 14-1 (11-1) Led to 5th, led after 6th until approaching 3 out, weakened before last, 7th of 18, 19l behind Indian Star (11-2) at Ludlow 2m clm hdl (4) gd.
Lord Lieutenant (FR) 8-1 (9-8) Led to after 1st, chased leader, ridden approaching 3 out, one pace, 4th of 12, 14l behind Dovedale (10-5) at Exeter 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Mar.
Bobby Donald (IRE) 5-1 (11-9) Made most, joined, strongly pressed 2 out, driven, stayed on, caught on line, 2nd of 8, hd behind Pacco (11-8) at Plumpton 2m 5f cnd hcp hdl 0-105 (4) hvy.
