always in rear, hit 1st, tailed off 9th, pulled up 2 out
towards rear, mistake 6th, ridden next, plugged on
in touch, ridden to lead 3 out, challenged last, kept on
led and hit 2nd, ridden approaching 3 out, headed when weakening and hampered 3 out
always in rear, hampered by lost horse 8th and 9th
held up mid-division, driven 6th, weakened 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
in touch, headway 10th, close up when fell 3 out
tracked leaders, ridden 11th, weakening when hampered 3 out
tracked leaders, mistake and unseated rider 6th
tracked leaders and keen, ridden and bumped 3 out, weakened next
mid-division, headway 4 out, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, with winner when mistake last and no extra
held up in touch, ridden and weakening when bumped 3 out
mid-division, headway 10th, ridden to chase leaders 4 out, one pace
in rear and jumped left 1st, never a danger
soon well behind, pulled up before 2 out
in touch, ridden 5 out, weakening when pulled up before 3 out
Never So Blue gets the vote over Anshabil and In Extra Time, with Star Galaxy and Brigadier Du Bois worth a mention. French import Never So Blue absolutely bolted up off topweight over hurdles at Uttoxeter a week ago, and so it is probably a wise move by Venetia Williams to put him over fences here. He relished testing conditions last time, and despite having to carry 11st 7lb, a big run is expected. Anshabil was giving weight to Gerrard when runner-up at Folkestone last month which was not a bad effort, but his jumping has left a lot to be desired in the past, while In Extra Time also posted his best performance over fences at Huntingdon when chasing home Elgar. Star Galaxy needs to improve on his placing in selling company at Fontwell, and Brigadier Du Bois is held by the selection on past form, so we return to Never So Blue as the answer.
Point 7-2 (10-12) Towards rear, mistake 5th, headway and in touch 6th, soon weakened, behind when pulled up 5 out in race won by Carnt Spell (10-5) at Towcester 2m 3f chs 0-95 (5) sft in Nov, 10 ran.
Lusaka De Pembo (FR) 20-1 (9-11) Prominent, mistakes, blundered 8th, weakened from 13th, 9th of 20, 29l behind I Hear Thunder (11-2) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Nov.
Anshabil (IRE) 12-1 (11-8) In touch, went 2nd 4 out to 3 out, regained 2nd after 2 out, no chance, 2nd of 12, 7l behind Gerrard (10-5) at Folkestone 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Nov.
Battlefield 33-1 (11-6) Held up, headway 5th, blundered 8th, weakened 11th, tailed off, 6th of 11, well behind Fight The Feeling (10-2) at Ludlow 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs.
Never So Blue (FR) 5-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, led after 3 out, clear from next, won at Uttoxeter 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-90 (5) hvy beating Oops (11-6) by 29l, 12 ran.
In Extra Time (IRE) 13-2 (10-5) Held up, headway 9th, left 2nd at last, hung right and kept on one pace flat, 2nd of 7, 9l behind Elgar (11-6) at Huntingdon 2m cnd hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs.
Day du Roy (FR) 40-1 (11-4) With leader, lost place 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 8, 34l behind Sands Rising (11-8) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft.
Thieves'glen 100-1 (10-0) fell at the 4th in race won by Spot Thedifference (11-12) at Cheltenham 3m 7f crs cty hcp chs (2) sft, 12 ran.
Spiritual Dancer (IRE) 22-1 (11-2) Mid-division, mistake 7th, soon ridden, weakened after next, 12th of 14, well behind Zeloso (10-9) at Fontwell 2m 6f cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gf in Jun.
Brigadier du Bois (FR) 7-1 (11-6) Led until headed after 3 out, weakened next, 4th of 12, 40l behind Never So Blue (11-12) at Uttoxeter 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-90 (5) hvy.
Thievery 12-1 (10-3) In touch until ridden and weakened approaching 12th, tailed off, 5th of 8, well behind Hiers De Brouage (10-12) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs 0-110 (4) hvy in Nov.
Lescer's Lad 7-1 (10-5) Held up, closer order 5th, chased leaders 3 out, weakened before last, 4th of 6, 16l behind Ballyrainey (10-2) at Folkestone 2m nov hcp chs 0-90 (5) sft.
Star Galaxy (IRE) 14-1 (9-12) Held up, steady progress from 10th, pressed winner from 3 out, ridden after 2 out, no extra close home, 2nd of 12, 1l behind Mayoun (11-6) at Fontwell 2m 4f sll hcp chs 0-90 (5) sft.
Westernmost 25-1 (10-9) Held up in touch, weakened 3 out, 6th of 14, 14l behind Sultan Fontenaille (11-5) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in Jul.
John Jorrocks (FR) 8-1 (10-10) Led 2nd to 5th, ridden 6th, soon weakened, 9th of 12, well behind Lojo (10-6) at Fontwell 2m 2f sll hcp hdl (5) gf in Sept.
Dueling B'Anjiz (USA) 80-1 (10-6) Held up, headway 9th, mistake 10th, ridden after 4 out, 5th and no chance when blundered and unseated rider in race won by Mayoun (11-6) at Fontwell 2m 4f sll hcp chs 0-90 (5) sft, 12 ran.
Mountsorrel (IRE) 66-1 (10-5) Behind from 4th, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Sachsenwalzer (10-12) at Bangor 2m 1f beg chs (E) gd in Aug '05, 7 ran.
