chased leader, led soon after 3 out, hit next, soon switched left, went right last, stayed on well, ridden out
held up until fell 1st
held up, reminder after 7th, steady headway approaching 10th, went 3rd after 3 out, chased winner before next, switched right after 2 out, stayed on same pace last
chased leaders, stumbled badly 8th, weakened 4 out, tailed off
raced wide, not fluent, chased leaders, reminder after 6th, not fluent and dropped to rear 9th, ridden and struggling 11th, tailed off
in touch, headway to chase leaders 5th, brushed 3 out, weakened before next
led, ridden and headed soon after 3 out, lost 2nd approaching next, 3rd and held when stumbled 2 out
SPOT THE BALL won over track and trip just under a year ago and was also second over 3m1f here in January off today's mark. He clearly likes it here and is taken to bounce back to form now reunited with McCoy. Monty's Revenge was second in the race in which the selection unseated his rider at Wincanton last time but might prefer fast going while Salut Honore needs to improve on what he's shown recently to get involved. Veteran Arctic Echo is enjoying himself, however, and will make his presence felt again.
Bishophill Jack (IRE) 7-2 (11-9) Tracked leaders on outside, ridden 4 out, one pace 2 out, 4th of 9, 13l behind Pete The Feat (11-1) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Oct.
Arctic Echo 12-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, jumped big 1st, not fluent and reminder 7th, behind 10th, headway 4 out, carried left when challenging just before last, soon led, driven out, won at Worcester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (5) gd in Oct beating Moulin Tour (9-13) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Spot The Ball (IRE) 9-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, fell 6th, in a race won by Guydus (10-7) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp 0-100 (5) gs in Oct, 9 ran.
Salut Honore (FR) 4-1 (11-7) Led, clear 5th, headed 10th, mistake and weakened 2 out, tailed off, 5th of 7, 44l behind Kilcascan (10-9) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp 0-100 (5) sft in Oct.
Monty's Revenge (IRE) 11-1 (11-0) Held u, headway and in touch 8th, left close 3rd and hampered 13th (water), went 2nd 3 out, mistake next, stayed on same pace fom last, 2nd of 9, 2l behind Guydus (10-7) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp 0-100 (5) gs in Oct.
Midnight Charmer 6-1 (9-7) Tracked leaders, blundered and unseated rider 4th, in a race won by Local Present (10-1) at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp 0-100 (5) gs in Oct, 11 ran.
Von Galen (IRE) 16-1 (10-0) Always towards rear, never involved, 5th of 9, 50l behind Guydus (10-7) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp 0-100 (5) gs in Oct.
