held up in rear, blundered 2nd, driven and struggling after 6th, tailed off and pulled up next
in touch, weakened 7th, tailed off
always in rear, struggling before 7th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
chased clear leader, closed going well after 3 out, led 2 out, clear before last, heavily eased towards finish
always in rear, tailed off 7th, pulled up before 3 out
behind, mistake 5th, headway approaching 2 out, kept on flat
behind, ridden and struggling after 6th, in rear when mistake and unseated rider 7th
jumped left, led, clear 4th, reduced lead after 3 out, went badly left and headed 2 out, soon no chance with winner and lost 2nd last
raced in 3rd and well off the pace, weakened 9th, pulled up before 3 out
raced in 4th and off the pace, went modest 3rd 9th, stayed on to take 2nd last, no chance with heavily eased winner
always behind, struggling 7th, tailed off
ERE ALFIE may still be one step ahead of the handicapper and is preferred to the frustrating Pistol Desbois and Rudivale. Ere Alfie has the scope to make further progress after typically patient handling from his shrewd trainer. He's been impressive on each of his last two starts which has seen the handicapper take predictably draconian action but a 23lb rise for the two wins may not be enough to prevent him from completing a hat-trick. Anay Turge was backed to get the better of him last time and has been given a chance at the weights as he, too, is open to improvement in this sphere. Rudivale could be of interest at a price as his form figures aren't inspiring but he was in the process of running a big race at the track last time and could have the speed for this trip. Pistol Desbois has fired blanks over fences thus far but he's well enough handicapped to run up a sequence if his connections can get to the bottom of his jumping frailties. Senor Shane will find life tougher in this company from his revised mark, the quirky Maximix could be a lively outsider but stronger claims are held by Darn Hot who had a couple of these behind last time. All of this goes to give the race a really competitive look but we'll stick with Ere Alfie.
Widely Accepted (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) Jumped right and not fluent, always behind, lost touch 8th, 4th of 5, 36l behind Incorporation (10-5) at Haydock 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Oct.
Orana Conti (FR) 13-2 (11-5) Prominent, took keen hold, jumped right 4th, lost place 6th, weakening when not fluent 8th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Pistolet Dove (10-6) at Leicester 2m nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Dec, 8 ran.
Pistol Desbois (FR) 13-2 (11-3) Held up, ridden after 5 out, soon weakened, 9th of 12, 39l behind Pavillon Bleu (11-12) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Dec.
Senor Shane (IRE) 9-2 (11-5) Close up, blundered 12th, led approaching 2 out, all out, won at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft beating Omme Antique (10-8) by 3/4l, 10 ran.
Foxesbow (IRE) 14-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, lost place 8th, 10th of 12, well behind Pavillon Bleu (11-12) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Dec.
Maximix 11-1 (10-11) Always in rear, ridden 5 out, weakened 3 out, last of 6, well behind Victorias Groom (11-10) at Lingfield 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy in Dec.
Darn Hot 14-1 (10-1) Prominent, led 5 out, headed 4 out, regained lead 2 out, kept on flat, headed close home, 2nd of 12, ns behind Pavillon Bleu (11-12) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Dec.
Marigolds Way 40-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, headway from 9th, left modest 4th 3 out, no chance with front trio on long run to next, tailed off, 4th of 13, well behind Ultimate Limit (11-9) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Dec.
Fly Direct (IRE) 80-1 (10-11) Held up, reminders approaching 9th, some headway, weakened from next, tailed off and pulled up before 11th, in a race won by Richard's Sundance (11-0) at Exeter 3m beg chs (4) sft in Dec, 8 ran.
Rudivale (IRE) 25-1 (11-4) Took keen hold, led and soon clear, reduced lead 10th, looked tired in narrow lead when went badly left and fell 3 out, in a race won by Ultimate Limit (11-9) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Dec, 13 ran.
Ere Alfie (IRE) 10-3 (10-10) Chased leaders, blundered 9th, challenging 2 out, led well before last, drew clear flat, won at Taunton 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft in Dec beating Anay Turge (10-11) by 6l, 12 ran.
Anay Turge (FR) 7-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, 2nd from 10th, led on long run to 2 out until before last, no extra, 2nd of 12, 6l behind Ere Alfie (10-10) at Taunton 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft in Dec.
Sparkbridge (IRE) 50-1 (9-7) Chased leaders, pushed along after 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 8th of 11, 42l behind Mix N Match (10-5) at Wincanton 2m nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft in Dec.
