prominent, led after 4 out, clear approaching 2 out, easily
held up towards rear, ridden approaching 12th, soon weakened, pulled up before 4 out
held up behind, blundered 11th, soon weakened, pulled up before 3 out
close up, led 8th, headed 12th, weakened 5 out, pulled up before next
with leaders, led 12th, headed after 4 out, one pace from 3 out
in touch, ridden 4 out, kept on from next
led to 8th, close up, ridden 5 out, weakened from 3 out, pulled up before next
chased leaders, weakened 8th, ridden next, blundered 10th, tailed off when pulled up before 5 out
held up, weakened from 11th, pulled up before 4 out
mid-division, chasing leaders 4 out, chased winner 2 out, kept on, no impression
held up behind, weakening when blundered 5 out, pulled up before next
behind, weakened 10th, pulled up before 5 out, tailed off
chased leaders, weakened 6 out, pulled up before 4 out
chased leaders, challenged 5 out, every chance next, weakened quickly 2 out
in touch, weakened 6 out, pulled up before 4 out
General Hardi, JUST SMUDGE, and Huckleberry catch the eye here, with Just Smudge taken to follow up a convincing win last time out. General Hardi has found it hard to win, but ran a good race in defeat recently, albeit when made favourite. He is knocking on the door but until he wins he perhaps is best avoided. A winner at Hexham in October, Huckleberry won again at Wetherby on Boxing Day, relishing the soft ground. 9lbs higher here and on a quicker surface, Huckleberry may find the questions a little tough to answer here. Just Smudge took a similar contest last time in facile fashion, having been off the track for over a year. Venetia Williams has not had a winner since that success, but she is letting the selection run again quickly, clearly not believing there is any chance of the 'bounce' factor and that Just Smudge can reproduce that effort twice in quick succession. Just Smudge can defy top weight and looks worth following.
Just Smudge 4-1fav (11-7) Always prominent, led after 15th, clear approaching 4 out, eased flat, won at Ludlow 3m nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) sft beating Ya I Know (11-8) by 15l, 14 ran.
Messager (FR) 6-1 (11-4) In rear, mistake 1st, headway to chase leaders 5 out, hit next, weakened 3 out, 4th of 9, 23l behind Sammy Spiderman (10-0) at Ayr 2m 5f nov hcp chs (4) hvy in Dec.
Fighting Chance (IRE) 10-1 (11-5) Mistakes, held up in rear, headway to track leading pair 12th, kept on under pressure flat to press for 2nd, 3rd of 6, 3 1/2l behind Night Safe (11-11) at Lingfield 3m hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Nov.
Huckleberry (IRE) 3-1 (10-8) Made most, ridden approaching 3 out, kept on well, won at Wetherby 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Dec beating Fine Parchment (11-1) by 14l, 10 ran.
Fiftyfive Degrees (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Prominent, weakened after 5 out, 7th of 16, 29l behind Burnt Oak (10-12) at Newcastle 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Easby Mandarin 7-2fav (11-7) Mid-division, headway to lead after 4 out, headed after next, 2 lengths down and held when fell at the last in race won by Sycho Fred (10-5) at Market Rasen 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Dec, 11 ran.
Major Catch (IRE) 20-1 (10-3) Mid-division, weakened 4 out, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Orki Des Aigles (10-6) at Market Rasen 3m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Dec, 13 ran.
Lord Appellare (IRE) 12-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, headway 14th, close 3rd when blundered 2 out, one pace after, 3rd of 16, 14l behind Constantius (10-2) at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Dec.
Chorizo (IRE) 7-1 (11-4) Mid-division, weakenend 10th, behind when pulled up 3 out in race won by Sycho Fred (10-5) at Market Rasen 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Dec, 11 ran.
Supreme's Legacy (IRE) 11-4fav (11-4) Tracked leaders, reminders 2nd, jumped slowly afterwards, tailed off when pulled up 5 out in race won by Huckleberry (10-8) at Wetherby 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Dec, 10 ran.
Waltham Abbey 15-2 (11-3) Led until mistake and fell at the 6th in race won by Zanzibar Boy (11-4) at Towcester 2m 3f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs in Dec, 13 ran.
General Hardi 4-1fav (11-3) Chased leaders, led and mistake last, headed towards finish, kept on, 2nd of 18, 1/2l behind Hall of Flame (10-9) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Oct.
Wee George 33-1 (10-6) Chased leaders, lost place approaching 6th, last of 13, well behind Apollo Creed (11-6) at Southwell 2m 5f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in May.
Ortega (FR) 150-1 (10-5) Tracked leaders, led approaching 3 out, headed next, weakened approaching last, 4th of 6, 16l behind Kia Kaha (11-4) at Fakenham 2m 5f nov chs (3) gs.
Oscar Trial (IRE) 33-1 (10-6) Always behind, 10th of 14, well behind Golden Feather (11-7) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf in Sept.
Kedgeree 7-1 (11-7) Mistake 4th, always in rear, no chance when mistakes 3 out and 2 out, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Prince of Persia (11-12) at Huntingdon 3m nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Dec, 15 ran.
