tracked leaders in 3rd, challenged between front pair after 5 out, left in lead next, joined 2 out, soon ridden, kept on, headed narrowly final strides
tracked leaders, left disputing 3rd 4 out, ridden 2 out, no extra in 4th when hit last
held up in touch, headway when left 2nd 4 out, virtually upsides 2 out, ridden after last, stayed on to lead narrowly final strides
held up in touch on outside, tracked leaders before 11th, ridden and outpaced before 4 out, switched left and rallied to chase front pair before last, kept on
disputed lead, narrow advantage when fell 4 out
disputed lead, lost place when ridden before 4 out, soon outpaced, weakened 2 out
held up in rear, not fluent 13th, struggling 5 out, lost touch when pulled up before next
NonRunner
Favorito Buck's is only six and won at Fontwell and Kempton last season as a novice – he should be more the finished article this winter. Canyouringmeback looks progressive and was still going well when unseating his rider at Wincanton when on a hat-trick but LEITH HILL LAD is the only course winner in the line-up. The latter made mistakes when well behind Scoop The Pot at Hereford last month but that outing should have blown away any cobwebs and his stable is in better form now. Belmount has won his last two and has only been raised 4lb so should be thereabouts again while a case can also be made for Stratford scorer Powerful Symbol.
Belmount (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Tracked leader until 2nd, handy 3rd, left in lead 8th, narrowly headed 2 out, rallied gamely to lead again soon after the last, driven out, won at Ludlow 3m hcp (3) gf in Oct beating Forever Field (11-6) by 3/4l, 7 ran.
Favorito Buck's (FR) 9-2 (11-10) Held up tracking leaders in 5th, headway on outside 10th, challenged going well 13th, pushed along in 3rd before 3 out, soon outpaced, weakened next, 4th of 6, 13l behind Bugsie Malone (10-8) at Kempton 3m hcp (3) gd in May.
Scoop The Pot (IRE) 10-3 (11-6) Chased leaders, driven to challenge 3 out, soon one pace, 3rd of 5, 10 1/4l behind Drovers Lane (11-3) at Hereford 3m 1f hcp (3) gf in Oct.
Carlos Du Fruitier (FR) 8-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, dropped to rear 9th, headway 13th, ridden to chase winner 2 out, pulled up quickly before last, at Fakenham 3m hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Powerful Symbol (IRE) 8-1 (11-13) Made all, hard ridden when strongly challenged approaching omitted last, held on gamely (3 hurdles omitted), won at Stratford 2m 7f hcp (4) gd in Oct beating Vendredi Trois (11-7) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Leith Hill Lad 8-1 (11-2) Tracked leader, mistakes 2nd and 4 out, soon lost place, tailed off, last of 5, dist behind Drovers Lane (11-3) at Hereford 3m 1f hcp (3) gf in Oct.
Canyouringmeback (IRE) 6-1 (11-3) Last pair, closer 12th, headway chasing leaders 16th, blundered and unseated rider next, at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp (3) gf in Oct.
Court Frontier (IRE) 14-1 (10-10) In rear, ridden 4 out, beaten when unseated rider next, at Wincanton 3m 3f hcp (3) fm in Oct.
