in rear, ridden from 5th, headway 2 out, soon no further impression
held up rear, smooth headway 5th, clear with leader from 2 out, led last, comfortably
in touch, ridden and weakened 2 out
held up and keen, headway 5th, hit next, clear and led briefly 2 out, no further impression
led, headed 5th, led again 6th, soon headed and weakened
not jump well in rear, pulled up before 4th
mid-division, headway 5th, ridden to chase clear pair 2 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders and keen hold, weakened 2 out
tracked leader, led briefly 5th, ridden and weakened soon after 3 out
in touch, lost place 3rd, mistake 4th, behind when pulled up before 3 out
held up mid-division, mistake 2nd, headway 3rd, ridden to lead 2 out, weakened and headed soon after
tracked leader, ridden 3rd, soon lost place, tailed off when pulled up before last
Ambersong is the pick over Siena Star, with Blue Mariner and So Cloudy likely to prove troublesome. Ambersong has finished third on each of his last two starts without really catching the eye too much, but he did stay on at Ludlow in similar company, and has as good a chance as any. Siena Star has the assistance of Tony McCoy in his bid to land a first success over timber. Fit from the Flat, he has taken on better company before and has place claims at least. Blue Mariner has not had too much experience over hurdles and could be a danger in this company, while So Cloudy makes the journey down from Cheshire on the back of a second in non-selling company at Taunton. She has more scope than some of the others, and it would be no surprise if she were to take a hand in the finish. In a poor event, Ambersong is saddled with the vote.
Ambersong 5-1 (10-10) Mid-division, lost place after 4th, ridden, headway approaching 3 out, hit last, one pace flat, 3rd of 14, 7l behind Auetaler (10-4) at Ludlow 2m cnd sll hdl (G) gd.
Blue Mariner 22-1 (11-7) Held up, headway after 3 out, every chance 2 out, one pace flat, 4th of 12, 2 1/2l behind Zando (10-0) at Leicester 2m sll hdl (G) gs.
Bonjour Bond (IRE) 150-1 (10-9) Held up towards rear and jumped left throughout, soon tailed off, 11th of 12, well behind Desert Quest (10-12) at Taunton 2m 3f nov hdl (D) frm in Oct.
Canadian Storm 20-1 (11-9) In touch, headway after 5th, ridden 3 out, kept on from 2 out, 4th of 16, 14l behind Past Heritage (9-11) at Taunton 2m 1f sll hcp hdl 0-90 (G) gf.
Lanos (POL) 66-1 (10-10) Chased leaders to 6th, last of 14, well behind Auetaler (10-4) at Ludlow 2m cnd sll hdl (G) gd.
Master Moneyspider 66-1 (10-11) Always behind, 11th of 15, well behind Mr Pointment (11-4) at Bangor 2m 1f nhf (H) gd in Dec.
Siena Star (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Mid-division, ridden after 5th, weakened after next, 10th of 17, 28l behind Norton Sapphire (10-0) at Worcester 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-90 (F) gf in Aug.
Weet Watchers 20-1 (10-7) In touch, ridden to chased winner after 3 out to 2 out, weakened last, 4th of 13, 12l behind Birdwatch (11-0) at Leicester 2m sll hdl (G) gs.
Gordy's Joy 100-1 (9-11) Mid-division, weakened and mistake 6th, soon behind, 6th of 7, well behind Magot De Grugy (11-7) at Exeter 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (E) gs.
Simiola 100-1 (10-3) Mid-division, headway after 5th, ridden after next, weakened 3 out, 10th of 14, 29l behind Auetaler (10-4) at Ludlow 2m cnd sll hdl (G) gd.
So Cloudy 20-1 (10-0) Held up towards rear, pulled hard and headway after 4th, ridden after 3 out, one pace, 2nd of 5, 12l behind Cappanrush (10-9) at Taunton 2m 1f nh nov hdl (D) frm in Oct.
Tia Marnie 66-1 (10-5) Always behind, tailed off approaching 2 out, 7th of 9, well behind Noble Sham (10-11) at Worcester 2m 4f nov hdl (E) gf in Sept.
Topple 66-1 (9-0) Slowly into stride, always behind, 14th of 17, 31l behind Breathing Fire (9-0) at Windsor 1m 2f mdn stk (5) gd in Oct (Flat).
