mid-division, driven when mistake and unseated rider 4 out
keen, in touch, fell 2nd
held up, headway after 9th, led on bit last, pushed clear
led after 1st and soon clear, headed after 3 out, ridden and weakened after 2 out
in touch, pulled up approaching 3rd,
held at rear, headway 4 out, soon ridden and one pace
led, headed 2nd, stayed prominent, ridden and weakened 3 out
in touch, headway 6th, ridden to lead after 3 out, headed last and weakened
always towards rear, pulled up before 2 out
held at rear, hampered 2nd, lost touch from 4th, pulled up before 2 out
in rear when hampered 2nd, lost touch from 4th, pulled up before 2 out
in touch, driven for headway 5 out to join leaders, weakened 2 out
Ones for the shortlist are Uncle Max and Advance East, but we will side with Avadi. Uncle Max is only a pound above a winning hurdle mark and ought to be competitive at this level over fences, but Avadi, who is seven pounds above the mark of his Market Rasen win, will find this easier than at Haydock last time, so has to very much respected, in our view. Wages has shown chasing promise and still looks reasonably weighted, while Cusp would hold a chance based on his Newcastle second two runs ago, although that run came on heavy. Apadi is back to a winning mark, although that came at Cartmel, a much sharper track, and Advance East gets a fair shout, being just four pounds above his winning Uttoxeter mark. Finally, Bewleys Guest disappointed last time but had shown promise the time before, and he hails from a canny yard. Overall, though, we will stick with Avadi.
Uncle Max (IRE) 8-1 (11-11) Mid-division, headway 11th, soon chasing leaders, effort 2 out, soon one pace, 3rd of 16, 4l behind Moscow Gold (9-13) at Ludlow 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-95 (F) gd in Dec.
Wages 7-4fav (11-7) Chased leaders, led 3 out, headed next, soon ridden and stayed on same pace, 2nd of 10, 4l behind Moscow Gold (9-13) at Folkestone 2m nov hcp chs 0-90 (F) gd in Dec.
Julies Boy (IRE) 15-2 (11-5) Tracked leader to 5th, weakened after 10th, tailed off, 8th of 11, 50l behind Jolly Boy (10-7) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-90 (F) sft in Dec.
Cusp 16-1 (10-6) Chased leaders, ridden after 10th, weakened 2 out, 8th of 12, 20l behind Lost In Normandy (10-0) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (E) hvy in Dec.
Apadi (USA) 7-1 (10-10) Reluctant to race and pulled up at the 4th in race won by Oso Magic (11-12) at Newcastle 2m hcp chs 0-105 (E) gs in Nov, 6 ran.
Smurfit (IRE) 18-1 (11-2) Prominent, left in lead 2nd, headed 9th, left in lead 11th, hampered by loose horse 4 out, headed 2 out, weakened last, 3rd of 9, 9l behind Camdenation (11-2) at Towcester 2m 6f beg chs (E) gs in Apr.
Avadi (IRE) 9-2 (9-12) In touch, hampered 2nd, led 4 out, hit 3 out, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, weakened approaching last, 5th of 11, 19l behind Dun Doire (10-1) at Haydock 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-110 (D) sft in Dec.
Jacarado (IRE) 16-1 (9-11) Behind, headway and pecked 14th, hit next, soon weakened, 8th of 11, well behind Cool Song (9-12) at Warwick 3m 2f hcp chs 0-95 (F) gd in Nov.
