held up mid-division in 5th, weakened from 4f out
held up towards rear, pushed along before 4f out, soon tailed off
held up in rear, pushed along over 3f out, headway over 2f out, soon went 4th, no impression
led, quickened pace over 4f out, clear over 2f out, ran on strongly, driven out
held up mid-division, ridden before 2f out, weakened over 1f out
tracked leaders in 3rd, pushed along over 4f out, went 3rd over 1f out, chased winner inside final furlong, no impression
tracked winner, ridden over 2f out, no extra and lost 2nd place inside final furlong
held up towards rear, effort on outer over 4f out, soon pushed along, never dangerous
Cross Of Honour followed-up a win in similar company at Kempton in December with a victory over hurdles. He should be in the mix in his current form but MASTERFUL ACT is preferred. The latter landed a double on the Flat here earlier this month and Alan McCabe's charge could have too much speed for today's opposition. Scribe finished second to the selection on his penultimate start but was still beaten nine lengths and will do well to reverse running on much worse terms. Red Not Blue is the best of these over jumps though Ostland is not far behind and scored over fences at Stratford when last seen at the track in May.
Cross Of Honour (IRE) 15-8fav (11-11) In touch in last place, progress 4 out, left 2nd 2 out, ridden to challenge last, driven and stayed on to lead near finish, won at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Dec beating Frontier Spirit (11-12) by 1/2l, 5 ran.
Finch Flyer (IRE) 100-1 (11-0) Behind, struggling 6th, continued tailed off, never any chance with leaders, 5th of 6, well behind Wishfull Thinking (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m chs (2) sft in Nov.
Lucky Landing (IRE) 2-1fav (10-13) In touch, headway to 3rd at 6th, chased leader 3 out, challenged next, led last, ridden and ran on, won at Market Rasen 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) sft beating Bowie (11-2) by 6l, 7 ran.
Masterful Act (USA) 50-1 (10-6) Tracked leaders, quickly weakened before 2 out, soon pulled up, in a race won by Parc Des Princes (10-5) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Dec, 15 ran.
Ostland (GER) 22-1 (11-9) Jumped well, made all, stayed on well from last, won at Stratford 2m 4f hcp chs 0-140 (3) gd in May beating That'll Do (10-13) by 4l, 16 ran.
Phoenix Returns (IRE) 4-1 (10-9) Keen in touch, ridden 3 out, plugged on from 2 out, 5th of 12, 38l behind Walkabout Creek (11-2) at Sedgefield 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs.
Red Not Blue (IRE) 28-1 (11-8) Held up towards rear, ridden and mistake 8th, soon behind, pulled up after, in a race won by Action Master (10-6) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl (2) gs in Oct, 20 ran.
Riguez Dancer 11-1 (11-7) Always behind, lost touch before 11th, stumbled next, tailed off when blundered badly 14th, pulled up immediately, in a race won by That's The Deal (9-12) at Fakenham 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft, 5 ran.
Scribe (IRE) 20-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, wandered into several obstacles, weakened 3 out, tailed off, 5th of 8, well behind An Capall Mor (11-5) at Bangor 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Aug.
