keen, set steady pace, ridden and headed approching 2 out, plugged on one pace
keen held up, headway to challenge 2 out, ridden and kept on to go 2nd flat, not trouble winner
pulled hard, held up in rear, headway to challenge winner 2 out, kept on one pace, lost 2nd flat
keen chased leaders, went 2nd after 3rd , lead approaching 2 out, ridden out
tracked leader until after 3rd, ridden and dropped to rear 4 out
Artisan stood little chance in a higher grade race at Cheltenham last month and ran accordingly. He'll finish closer here but preference is for CHICKLEMIX. He never figured on his chasing debut last month but has leading claims in this company back over the smaller obstacles. Dark Energy wasn't beaten that far when fourth at this track in September and he makes more appeal than Blackstone Vegas while Basil Fawlty has scope for improvement on only his second start for David Pipe.
Artisan 20-1 (10-3) Held up in rear, hampered 3rd, never on terms, 11th of 22, 27l behind Dark Lover (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (3) gs in Oct.
Chicklemix 50-1 (10-10) Held up in rear, not jump well, headway 10th, weakened 3 out, 4th of 6, 43l behind There's No Panic (11-8) at Fakenham 2m 5f nov chs (3) gs in Oct.
Basil Fawlty (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, steady headway 4 out, kept on to take moderate 4th 2 out, never troubled leading trio, 4th of 14, 24l behind Mr Mole (10-12) at Exeter 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Oct.
Dark Energy 4-1 (10-0) Held up in rear, under pressure 3 out, never on terms, 6th of 9, 10l behind Compton Blue (11-5) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gd in Oct.
Blackstone Vegas 7-1 (11-5) Mid-division, headway approaching 6th, weakened before 2 out, went right and mistake last, 6th of 11, 21l behind Lisdonagh House (10-3) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (5) sft.
