held up, headway after 14th, went 4th approaching 4 out, mistake and weakened 3 out, tailed off
tracked leaders, mistake and lost place 10th, behind when pulled up before 4 out
prominent on outside, not fluent 12th, disputing close 3rd when fell 14th
led, jumped left at times, mistake 12th, headed approaching 3 out, beaten in 3rd next, soon weakened, tailed off
prominent, mistake 2nd, lost place 8th, hampered 14th, behind before 4 out, stayed on from 2 out to take remote 3rd last
tracked leaders, went 2nd after 14th, led approaching 3 out, driven out, idled near finish
in rear, not fluent and niggled along early, headway approaching 8th, 3rd when jumped left 4 out, every chance when jumped left 2 out, no impression on winner towards finish
held up, mistake 1st, not much room 5th, headway 13th, weakened 3 out, tailed off
held up, headway when jumped right 5th, hit 12th and 13th, mistake 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off
Rate Of Knots is a decent handicapper on his day but mistakes have cost him dearly as they did at Plumpton last time. PLUM PUDDING won this in 2010 and followed up here up the following month. He can take this as he was having just his third start in 20 months when battling to victory at Warwick and a 7lb rise doesn't look too harsh. Dont Tell Sailor is a progressive chaser who arrives here in very good form having won twice at Uttoxeter this season. He's up in the weights as a consequence but can give a good account but the handicapper appears to have hold of Investment Affair who is 11lb higher after his Fakenham success in November.
Rate of Knots (IRE) 8-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders, fell 13th, in a race won by Double Dizzy (10-9) at Plumpton 3m 5f hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy, 9 ran.
Cottage Acre (IRE) 10-1 (11-10) Hit 1st and left in lead, headed 7th, hit 11th, outpaced when hit 4 out, stayed on flat, 4th of 7, 6l behind Stormhoek (10-7) at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs.
Samurai Way 14-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders on outside, mistake 10th, outpaced 3 out, weakened from next, 8th of 12, 28l behind Plum Pudding (10-13) at Warwick 3m hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs in Dec.
Evella (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Led until 14th, ridden next, weakened 4 out, pulled up after 3 out, in a race won by Double Dizzy (10-9) at Plumpton 3m 5f hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy, 9 ran.
Plum Pudding (FR) 18-1 (10-13) Led, headed 5th, led again narrowly 7th, not fluent 3 out, blundered and headed next, soon ridden, kept on under pressure flat, held when left in lead again post, lucky, won at Warwick 3m hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs in Dec beating Glens Boy (10-7) by hd, 12 ran.
Dont Tell Sailor (IRE) 14-1 (10-11) Chased leader, led approaching 11th, joined 2 out, ridden and headed last, stayed on same pace flat, 2nd of 11, 1 1/2l behind Rigadin De Beauchene (10-5) at Hereford 2m 5f hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Dec.
Toby Belch (IRE) 33-1 (11-8) Chased leaders on outside, not fluent 2nd, went 2nd 7th (water), led briefly approaching next, chased leaders until weakened approaching 2 out, 7th of 13, 25l behind Gotoyourplay (11-2) at Newbury 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Dec.
Arturo Uno (IRE) 7-1 (10-6) Held up, ridden after 9th, 6th and well beaten after 13th, 5th of 10, well behind Penny Max (11-3) at Newbury 3m nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Dec.
Investment Affair (IRE) 5-1 (9-11) Held up, headway 12th, soon chase winner, ridden 3 out, kept on one pace, 2nd of 12, 6l behind Frontier Spirit (11-3) at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Dec.
