tracked leaders, left 2nd 12th, led 3 out, headed approaching last, kept on under pressure
tracked leader, led 11th, headed 3 out, rallied to lead approaching last, stayed on
tracked leaders, mistake 3rd, left 3rd 12th, every chance 4 out to 2 out, weakened quickly and pulled up before last
led, headed 11th, saddle slipped and pulled up before next
Twelve Paces is fit and fancied in his bid to defy topweight, and can do so at the expense of Rogues Gallery and See You There. Twelve Paces showed very little over hurdles after making a winning debut in bumper company, but the switch to fences this season has reaped immediate dividends for connections, the five-year-old beating the much more experienced Strong Resolve at Carlisle in October. Granted he was receiving lumps of weight, but it was still a good effort, and so it came as no surprise when he followed up at the same track next time. He won with something to spare that day, and so despite topweight here, he should take all the beating. He has a big fitness edge over Rogues Gallery who has yet to jump a fence in public, but the latter should make his mark when fit enough. A bigger danger on this occasion may well be See You There who was just in front when falling three out here at the last meeting 12 days ago. Twelve Paces has improved out of all recognition this term though, and has to be supported to complete the hat-trick.
Twelve Paces 13-8fav (10-5) Raced wide and held up, headway 9th, shaken up to lead between last 2, pushed out, comfortably, won at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in Oct beating Moustique de L'Isle (10-10) by 3 1/2l, 16 ran.
See You There (IRE) 13-2 (11-0) Prominent, led after 13th, slight lead when fell 3 out in race won by One Sniff (11-0) at Hexham 3m 1f nov chs (3) gs, 6 ran.
Rogues Gallery (IRE) 6-5fav (11-6) Raced keenly in mid-division, headway to lead 4th, ridden last, headed and no extra flat, 2nd of 11, 1 1/2l behind Bellaney Jewel (10-13) at Hexham 3m nov hdl (E) gd in Apr '05.
Fleetfoot Mac 7-1 (10-1) Tracked leaders, hit 5th, outpaced 7th, ridden and weakened from 3 out, 6th of 10, 36l behind Billy Bush (10-11) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd.
Corlande (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) In rear, never a factor, 8th of 12, well behind Heltornic (10-7) at Worcester 2m 7f beg chs (3) gs in Oct.
