tracked leaders in 3rd when fell 2nd
towards rear, headway 5 out, ridden before 3 out, weakened before 2 out
held up towards rear, headway before 4 out, in 5th and one pace before last
led, ridden and headed before last, no extra
in rear, headway before 4 out, ridden after last, kept on to lead post
mid-division, headway before 5 out, went 3rd before 4 out, ridden before 2 out, kept on same pace
tracked leader, pushed along and lost place from 5 out, tailed off
held up in touch, went 2nd from 5 out, led before last, kept on and headed post
held up in touch, ridden before 4 out, soon weakened
Shadrack was headed in the closing stages at Doncaster last time but is now 8lb higher than his win at Sedgefield last May. The less exposed WORKBENCH did not get far in a Grade 3 contest at Cheltenham last month but this looks easier than his recent tasks. Dan Skelton's charge is also preferred Witness In Court, who has struggled since scoring at Haydock last year, while Viva Colonia has yet to show any improvement for a slide down the weights. Course winner Swing Hard may be best watched for now but Reaping The Reward is back on a winning mark if at his best.
Witness In Court (IRE) 20-1 (10-7) Led narrowly to 2nd, chased leaders until lost place 7th, soon behind, no danger after, 11th of 16, 35l behind Poole Master (10-12) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs (2) gs in Dec.
Viva Colonia (IRE) 11-2 (11-5) Tracked leaders, outpaced 6th, headway 6 out, kept on from 2 out, went poor 3rd before last until towards finish, 4th of 5, 14l behind Stagecoach Pearl (10-7) at Wetherby 2m hcp chs 0-140 (3) sft in Dec.
Workbench (FR) 18-1 (10-7) Held up in rear, fell 3rd, in a race won by Niceonefrankie (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m 5f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gs in Dec, 12 ran.
Shadrack (IRE) 9-2 (11-8) Led narrowly to 3rd, with leader, led again 7th to 9th, regained lead 5 out, hard pressed from 2 out, ridden and kept on flat, headed narrowly near finish, 2nd of 6, nk behind Premier Grand Cru (11-0) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Nov.
Reaping The Reward (IRE) 10-1 (11-5) Held up, headway and every chance 4 out, ridden next, chasing leader when blundered and nearly fell last, soon hampered, not recover, 4th of 9, 18l behind Bearly Legal (10-9) at Musselburgh 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in Nov.
Tiptoeaway (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) With leader, every chance 4 out, weakened before 3 out, last of 6, 34l behind Back To Bracka (11-7) at Wetherby 2m hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Nov.
Swing Hard (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) In touch in 4th, weakened from 5 out, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Categorical (11-10) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Nov, 5 ran.
Quito Du Tresor (FR) 20-1 (10-11) Mistake 1st, always behind, tailed off, 7th of 10, 43l behind Bincombe (10-10) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Dec.
Why But Why (USA) 20-1 (11-5) Prominent, ridden and every chance from 4 out until last, kept on one pace, 4th of 10, 7l behind Un Anjou (11-3) at Musselburgh 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Nov.
