tracked leaders, reminders after 7th, weakened before 4 out
in touch, chased leading pair 3 out, challenged last, soon ridden, stayed on to lead narrowly flat
mid-division on outside, headway and in touch 5 out, led 4 out to next, soon ridden, every chance last, kept on same pace flat
tracked leaders, led after 5 out to next, weakened 3 out
behind, headway under pressure 5 out, ridden next, weakened 3 out
behind, struggling 5 out, never dangerous
mid-division, outpaced 5 out, never dangerous
chased leaders, dropped to mid-division after 5th, outpaced beffore 4 out, never on terms
tracked leaders, led 3 out, hard pressed last, ridden and headed narrowly flat, kept on
led, ridden and headed after 5 out, weakened next
mid-division on inside, chased leaders after 5 out, ridden and kept on same pace from 3 out, never on terms
towards rear, struggling 7th, never dangerous
chased leaders, dropped to mid-division after 5th, outpaced when mistake 4 out, never on terms
always behind
This may be too tough for Fakenham winner Roc de Guye while stablemates Rory Boy and Quel Bruere disappointed last time. Border Reiver dropped away tamely at Wetherby on Boxing Day but Nothingbutthetruth looks to be running into a bit of form and makes more appeal over this trip than stayer Double Dizzy. Forty Five is gradually coming down the weights while the first-time blinkered Appleaday and Cootehill are usually thereabouts but LEXICON LAD probably has a bit more scope than that pair. Tom George's six-year-old jumps well for a novice and could take some pegging back if allowed his own way out in front here.
Appleaday (IRE) 13-8fav (11-12) Led, mistake 15th, headed 3 out, led again 2 out, driven and joined after last, headed last stride, 2nd of 5, shd behind Satou (11-5) at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs.
Cootehill (IRE) 11-4fav (11-11) Held up towards rear, headway after 10th, chased winner before 4 out, every chance 3 out, ridden before 2 out, kept on and no impression, 2nd of 9, 8l behind Rockiteer (11-9) at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in Nov.
Qrackers (FR) 33-1 (11-4) In rear, behind when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Frontier Spirit (11-3) at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd, 12 ran.
Quipe Me Posted (FR) 22-1 (10-10) Chased leaders, blundered 8th, soon lost place, 6th of 12, 19l behind Quicuyo (11-10) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp chs 0-140 (3) gs.
Olympian (FR) 16-1 (11-7) In rear, ridden approaching 6th, headway from 4 out, went 3rd after 2 out, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 7, 9l behind Triangular (11-4) at Warwick 2m hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd.
Rory Boy (USA) 10-1 (11-1) Mid-division, dropped to rear 5th, reminders after 9th, struggling 12th, never dangerous, 6th of 9, 32l behind Night Alliance (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m 5f cond hcp chs (4yo+) (3) gd.
Nothingbutthetruth (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Took keen hold, early, headway to chase leader after 1st, led approaching 3 out, ridden and headed before last, stayed on same pace flat, 2nd of 12, 2 1/4l behind Storm Survivor (11-7) at Folkestone 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Nov.
Double Dizzy 16-1 (10-8) Tracked leaders, effort 2 out, 3rd and driven when took wrong course before last, recovered and eventually completed, 6th of 10, well behind Garde Champetre (11-12) at Cheltenham 3m 7f hcp chs (2) gf.
Forty Five (IRE) 11-4 (11-8) Held up in touch, not fluent 3rd, headway 3 out, every chance next, soon led, headed last, faded, 2nd of 5, 11l behind Key Cutter (11-12) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-120 (4) fm.
Quel Bruere (FR) 10-1 (11-2) Always towards rear, hit 9th, pushed along next, tailed off 12th, 7th of 9, 38l behind Monsieur Jourdain (11-6) at Wetherby 2m 6f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Nov.
Border Reiver 7-1 (10-13) Held up, headway 4 out, soon driven and beaten, 6th of 10, 32l behind Tyrone House (11-9) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft.
Desperate Dex (IRE) 14-1 (10-13) Held up in rear, detached and badly outpaced from 7th, ridden before 9th, left poor 4th and hampered 3 out, plugged on, no impression, 3rd of 7, 13l behind Mister Wiseman (11-11) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Nov.
That's The Deal (IRE) 25-1 (9-9) Led 1st to next, tracked clear leader, led again 8th, headed before 2 out, kept on same pace, no extra when lost 3rd approaching last, 4th of 9, 11l behind Night Alliance (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m 5f cond hcp chs (4yo+) (3) gd.
Roc De Guye (FR) 11-4 (11-4) Slowly away, keen in rear early, headway 7th, led between 3 out and 2 out, ridden out, won at Fakenham 2m cnd hcp chs (0-95) (5) gd in Nov beating Finnegans Rainbow (9-11) by 8l, 6 ran.
Lexicon Lad (IRE) 5-2fav (11-10) Led until 4th, tracked winner, not fluent 10th, led 13th, headed approaching 3 out, one pace from next, 3rd of 5, 8l behind Trafalgar Road (11-11) at Sandown 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs.
