always prominent, slow 1st, led 3 out, soon hard driven, stayed on strongly (no time taken)
held up, pushed along after 4 out, chased leader next, soon one pace
tracked leader, not fluent 8th, soon lost place and in touch, chased winner after last, kept on well
held up in rear, keen hold, headway 9th, jumped right 11th, outpaced 4 out, effort 2 out, soon weakened
led until 3 out, weakened after next
held up in touch, chased leaders after 4 out, weakened 2 out, no time taken
BY GEORGE is given the vote in this handicap chase over Flaco and Noakarad De Verzee. Nick Gifford's 7-year-old is sure to come on plenty for his seasonal reappearance at Kempton when he finished second behind Shillingstone. That was a good effort and it is worth noting that the front pair pulled well clear of the third so the form looks solid enoughh. There is a slight concern about this more testing ground but if he handles it then he should be hard to beat. There wasn't much between Flaco and Noakarad De Verzee when they met at Ascot last month, and on the evidence of that and on breeding Flaco should be very much at home in this sort of contest. The ground is an unknown for him though as he has yet to race on ground as testing as this. In contrast, Noakarad De Verzee loves to get his toe in and he will relish these conditions. Thedreamstillalive will go on the ground and he has won three times over fences, but he is thoroughly exposed and it can pay to side with By George as the selection.
Temoin 20-1 (11-12) In rear, reminders after 4th, some headway 15th, no impression, tailed off, 7th of 10, well behind Any Currency (11-7) at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Nov.
By George (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) Held up in rear, hit 4 out, headway soon after, chased winner 3 out, stayed on under pressure flat, always just held, 2nd of 9, 1/2l behind Shillingstone (11-5) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Nov.
Noakarad De Verzee (FR) 5-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, under pressure 4 out, soon outpaced, stayed on towards last, 4th of 11, 6l behind Knighton Combe (11-12) at Ascot 3m nov hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Nov.
Flaco (IRE) 10-1 (11-4) Pulled hard in rear, headway before 3 out, never able to challenge, 3rd of 11, 2l behind Knighton Combe (11-12) at Ascot 3m nov hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Nov.
Thedreamstillalive (IRE) 15-2 (10-5) Led, headed 10th, stayed challenging, chased winner from 3 out, one pace from next, no impression, lost 2nd near finish, 3rd of 7, 5l behind Busy Isit (11-0) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Mar.
Alfadora 17-2 (9-11) Behind when mistake and unseated rider 1st, in a race won by Shillingstone (11-3) at Newbury 3m 2f am hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Nov, 9 ran.
