tracked leaders, not fluent 2nd, mistake 4th, went 2nd after 9th, led approaching 4 out, hit 2 out, headed before last, no extra flat
led until 7th, ridden after 9th, weakened 4 out, tailed off
tracked leader until 3rd, in touch, ridden after 9th, challenged after 4 out, led approaching last, clear flat, stayed on well
tracked leaders, went 2nd when hit 3rd, challenged after next, led 7th, ridden and headed approaching 4 out, left 3rd when beaten 3 out, weakened before next
held up in last, hit 8th, closed 4 out, 3 lengths 3rd and going strongly when fell next
Doctor David has been sidelined for the best part of two years and may need this while the mare Nadiya De La Viga had her limitations exposed after notching a double at Warwick and Kempton last season, though is dropped in grade here. Silk Drum weakened quickly on his debut for Dianne Sayer at Aintree but should strip fitter here though has to give weight to both Shadrack and TOUBAB. The former has a lot more to do than when winning a Huntingdon novice chase in the spring so it's the latter that gets the vote as he jumped soundly when just collared by Lancetto on his reappearance at Cheltenham and has plenty of scope for improvement.
Doctor David 17-2 (11-1) Mid-division, headway 5th, chased winner approaching 3 out, blundered last, no impression, 2nd of 16, 15l behind Chaninbar (10-8) at Aintree 2m hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Apr '10.
Silk Drum (IRE) 15-2 (11-12) Tracked leaders, outpaced 4 out, weakened after next, 5th of 8, 40l behind Takeroc (10-9) at Aintree 2m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Oct.
Nadiya De La Vega (FR) 4-1 (11-0) Held up in 5th, not fluent and reminder 8th, outpaced from 13th, well held after, stayed on from 2 out, left 3rd last, 3rd of 7, 19l behind Gilbarry (11-4) at Ayr 2m 4f nov chs G2 (1) gd in Apr.
Shadrack (IRE) 11-4 (10-12) Held up in 3rd, left 2nd 3 out, led 2 out, stayed on to draw clear flat, won at Huntingdon 2m nov chs 0-115 (4) gf in Apr beating Hi Tide (10-12) by 10l, 4 ran.
Toubab (FR) 5-4fav (11-3) Held up behind leaders, pecked slightly 3rd, went 2nd 7th, led 9th, clear 3 out until hit last, driven and headed towards finish, 2nd of 6, 3/4l behind Lancetto (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m nov chs (2) gf in Oct.
