led, ridden and headed after 15th, soon hung left and weakened
held up, headway 10th, tracked winner from 15th, weakened 2 out
tracked leaders, went 2nd 14th, led 4 out, clear 2 out, mistake last
held up and keen, headway 12th, ridden 4 out and weakened next
in touch, mistake 6th, ridden and lost place next, behind from 13th, pulled up before 4 out
held up, reminders from 3rd, lost touch 11th, pulled up before 4 out
held up, headway after 15th, ridden 3 out, soon weakened
in touch, mistake 10th and 14th, tracked leading pair from 4 out and no impression
mid-division and keen, headway to go 2nd 8th, weakened 15th, pulled up before next
tracked leaders, ridden 12th, weaken next, pulled up before 4 out
tracked leaders, bumped and virtually unseated jockey 1st, lost place 8th, weakened next, pulled up before 12th
WILL THE TILL can confirm his superiority over Pretty Star en route to an overdue success if all goes to plan for him today. Flight Command will also be a big threat and is worth bearing in mind if the vibes are right today. Not many of the others stand out as obvious improvers, especially Curly Spencer, who returns to racing at the age of fifteen and has only the slimmest of chances of causing an upset from 7lb out of the handicap! Flight Command made the most of some leniency from the handicapper when scoring in good style at Taunton last November and rates as a big danger on that form. However, he is now 9lb higher in the ratings and, as his consistency can be called into question, he may be vulnerable today. Pretty Star hails from a yard going great guns and, as he is holding his form well, the gelding has a solid chance of making the frame again today. However, Will The Till readily took his measure when they met at Fakenham two weeks ago and, granted a similar run, this can finally be a deserved day in the limelight for the Evan Williams-trained seven-year-old.
The Luder (IRE) 50-1 (11-0) Prominent, stumbled 1st, mistakes, weakened 13th, tailed off when pulled up at the last in race won by Hoopy (10-12) at Cheltenham 3m amt hcp chs 0-140 (2) sft in Nov, 17 ran.
Antonius Caesar (FR) 11-1 (11-10) Mid-division, effort 2 out, driven and one pace from last, 3rd of 16, 2l behind Stagecoach Opal (10-12) at Doncaster 3m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Dec.
Pretty Star (GER) 13-2 (11-8) Mid-division, headway halfway, chased leaders 14th, ridden to challenge after 2nd last, soon weakened, 4th of 12, 17l behind Ferimon (11-8) at Fakenham 3m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs.
Will The Till 15-2 (11-1) Held up towards rear, headway halfway, led approaching 4 out, ridden and headed approaching last, kept on same pace, 2nd of 12, 2l behind Ferimon (11-8) at Fakenham 3m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs.
Chickapeakray 4-1 (11-6) In touch, outpaced 4 out, stayed on to take 2nd near finish, 2nd of 6, 6l behind More Likely (11-6) at Carlisle 2m 5f mrs hcp chs (3) hvy in Dec.
Vedelle (IRE) 40-1 (11-3) Mid-division until 12th, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Mistress Nell (10-7) at Exeter 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Nov, 18 ran.
Flight Command 6-1 (11-3) In touch, headway 10th, challenged on bit 3 out, led 2 out, shaken up and ran on flat, won at Taunton 2m 7f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Nov beating Iris's Prince (10-12) by 3 1/2l, 12 ran.
Potts of Magic 9-2 (10-9) In touch, hit 9th, tracked leader from 12th, ridden 3 out, weakened 2 out, 3rd of 11, 8l behind National Petition (9-12) at Hereford 3m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Dec.
Hero Again (IRE) 33-1 (11-4) In rear, mistake 2nd, reminders 9th, lost touch 11th, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Ballyboley (11-2) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp chs 0-110 (4) hvy, 7 ran.
Methodical 33-1 (10-9) Chasing leaders when fell at the 6th in race won by Ferimon (11-8) at Fakenham 3m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs, 12 ran.
Curly Spencer (IRE) 11-4 (10-0) Chased leader, led 15th, blundered 3 out, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, soon weakened, last of 5, well behind Mr Dow Jones (11-3) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs in Dec '06.
Shoudawoudacouda (IRE) 11-1 (10-5) Mid-division, ridden after 7th, weakened approaching 2 out, 7th of 12, 19l behind Swift Sailor (10-12) at Fontwell 2m 4f sll hdl (3) gs in Dec.
