held up, ridden approaching 3 out, stayed on towards finish
in touch, ridden approaching 3 out, no impression
jumped left and mistakes, behind, ridden and headway 2 out, onepaced flat
in touch, headway 4 out, ridden 3 out, stayed on towards finish
tracked leaders, ridden and every chance 2 out, hit last, no extra towards finish
led, mistakes 1st and 8th, headed 12th, ridden 4 out, soon weakened, behind when pulled up before last
Richard Lee's old campaigner Samuel Wilderspin has claims off a 2lb lower mark than when two lengths second to Iris Bleu (good winner since) at Cheltenham's Open meeting but has disappointed twice since and may not be reliable. The Venetia Williams-trained Royale De Vassy may have needed the outing when down the field behind Truckers Tavern over course and distance last month and is entitled to be thereabouts on his best along with the consistent Tonoco. Sue Smith's gelding had a hard race when third to Barryscourt Lad in the Great Yorkshire Chase last time though and this may come too soon. The Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained Navarone has only been raised 4lbs for his success at Newbury in December last time but this represents a step up in class for the son of Gunner B. Neither Mistletoe nor Paxford Jack make much appeal on what they have shown recently and it might be worth chancing It's Himself. Tony Martin's gelding probably needed the run when fifth of 12 behind the Gold Cup second favourite Beef Or Salmon on his reappearance at Galway in October and got no further than the eighth fence when falling in the Welsh National at Chepstow most recently. Entitled to strip fitter for those outings, the son of Rakaposhi King looks well treated, hails from a shrewd stable and looks worth an interest in what is probably an uncompetitive contest.
