led, hit 11th, headed next, ridden approaching 3 out, no extra
tracked leaders, 3rd and every chance when fell 4 out
mid-division, weakened and lost touch from 10th
in touch, ridden approaching 4 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, weakening when blundered 3 out and 2 out
mid-division, weakened from 12th, pulled up before 4 out
mid-division, ridden from 12th, soon weakened
always towards rear
close up, led approaching 12th, driven out from 2 out
held up, mid-division halfway, ridden and hit 3 out, kept on from next
close up, ridden and weakened quickly after 12th, pulled up before next
always towards rear
Three Mirrors and Elverys are sure to have their supporters in this novices' handicap chase but we will take a chance and side with Wise Tail to lead them home. The selection was disappointing last time when pulled-up, but he had run a couple of solid races prior to that and with this fast ground very much in his favour he is taken to score. Three Mirrors has finished second on each of his last three starts but although he jumps well he can be a bit one-paced and at the forecast odds he could be worth taking on. Elverys is unexposed but although he travels well in his races he finds little off the bridle and a place is probably the best that he can expect. Combat Drinker has claims but he has been off the track for over a year so may just need the run, and we will return to Wise Tail who looks the value call.
Three Mirrors 5-2jt-fav (10-11) Led, ridden and headed after last, one pace, 2nd of 7, 9l behind Cloudless Dawn (11-2) at Kelso 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs.
Elverys (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Held up, headway 6th, ridden and no impression from 3 out, 3rd of 14, 18l behind Temple Place (10-11) at Bangor 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gs in Mar.
Wise Tale 9-1 (11-0) In rear, soon pushed along, reminders after 5th, struggling when pulled up 2 out in race won by Present Oriented (11-1) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Sept, 6 ran.
Combat Drinker (IRE) 9-2 (10-12) Held up, headway 11th, chased winner 13th until after 4 out, weakened quickly and pulled up 3 out in race won by Underwriter (10-8) at Hereford 3m 1f nov chs (E) gs in Nov '05, 6 ran.
Border Tale 9-1 (11-6) Mid-division, lost place halfway, behind when pulled up 4 out in race won by Orki Des Aigles (10-2) at Kelso 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd, 10 ran.
Barracat (IRE) 25-1 (11-5) Led, headed after 3 out, ridden next, one pace, 4th of 16, 16l behind Stormy Beech (11-1) at Sedgefield 2m 1f sll hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gs in Oct.
Classic Calvados (FR) 6-1 (11-3) Held up in touch, ridden to chase leader after 2 out, hit last, kept on flat, 3rd of 4, 2l behind Lambrini Mist (10-9) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gf.
Mister Magnum (IRE) 8-1 (9-11) Held up towards rear, driven 9th, rallied approaching 4 out, one pace, 3rd of 9, 6l behind Corrib Lad (11-12) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) hvy.
