held up in touch, lost place approaching 10th, behind after 14th, hit 2 out, stayed on approaching last, went 4th flat
led until after 2nd, hampered next, chased winner 7th until after 12th, weakened after 14th, tailed off
held up in rear, headway approaching 11th, stayed on one pace from 4 out, went 3rd after last
took keen hold, held up in touch, steadied before 5th, in touch again 12th, ridden before 4 out, soon weakened, clambered over 3 out, soon pulled up
held up in rear, headway on inside 10th, chased winner approaching 3 out, no impression when jumped right 2 out
held up, soon in touch, chased winner after 12th until before 3 out, soon beaten, lost 2 places after last
led after 2nd, jumped right and slowly next, headed next, chased winner until 7th, lost place 11th, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 14th
tracked leaders, slightly hampered 3rd, led 4th, clear of rest after 10th, drew further ahead approaching 2 out, eased towards finish
not always fluent, held up towards rear, well behind after 13th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
held up towards rear on outside, last 6th, went remote 6th when blundered and unseated rider 3 out
MAGOT DE GRUGY should give his running and is preferred here to Fourball and his Warwick conqueror Pontiff. The selection comes here on the back of a fair fourth to Too Forward at Wincanton and he is able to race off a 1lb lower mark this afternoon. His yard are in fair form and with this trip not a problem he is fancied to run well. He does have a bit to find with Pontiff having been third behind him at Warwick. Pontiff responded well to the application of a visor then and if it has the same effect today and he gets on with new jockey Christian Williams then a bold bid from the front is expected. Fourball split those two rivals and he continues to run well on testing ground, Brenin Cwmtudu has not been at his best of late, whilst Buffalo Bob is a course winner who handles this ground and he has a good young jockey aboard this afternoon. Pelo Du Bief put in a rare poor performance last time out at Huntingdon, Roseneath is up 8lb for winning on his chasing debut but is open to tons of improvement, whilst Michigan D'Isop continues to run well in defeat since coming back from his summer break. At a price Noakarad De Verzee is capable of better now returned to the track, however the nomination goes to Magot De Grugy.
Noakarad De Verzee (FR) 5-1 (11-11) Chased leader, still well there 4 out, weakened quickly before next, tailed off, 5th of 8, well behind Iconoclast (11-11) at Kempton 3m nov hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Jan.
Victory Gunner (IRE) 33-1 (11-5) Chasing leaders approaching 1st, losing place before 7th, tailed off when pulled up before 15th, in a race won by Present M'lord (11-7) at Exeter 4m hcp chs 0-120 (3) hvy in Dec, 11 ran.
Fourball (IRE) 6-1 (11-6) Held up, headway after 4 out, ridden to chase leaders next, soon weakened, left beaten 3rd last, 3rd of 8, 14l behind Notabotheronme (11-3) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Jan.
Brenin Cwmtudu 8-1 (11-9) Mainly always in rear, blundered 8th, tailed off 15th, 6th of 7, well behind Western Whisky (10-7) at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Dec.
Michigan d'Isop (FR) 12-1 (11-9) Towards rear, outpaced after 5 out, kept on, no impression, 3rd of 12, 11l behind Afistfullofpebbles (11-10) at Ffos Las 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Jan.
Magot de Grugy (FR) 7-1 (10-11) Raced wide, held up, mistake 11th, headway under pressure approaching 3 out, stayed on same pace from next, 4th of 9, 16l behind Too Forward (11-5) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-125 (3) hvy in Jan.
Pontiff (IRE) 9-2 (10-10) Made all, clear when hit 3 out, hung left approaching 2 out, stayed on flat, won at Warwick 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Dec beating Fourball (11-9) by 3 1/2l, 8 ran.
Buffalo Bob (IRE) 12-1 (11-5) Tracked leader, led 13th, headed 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 12, 21l behind Afistfullofpebbles (11-10) at Ffos Las 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Jan.
Roseneath (IRE) 16-1 (10-13) Held up, headway on inside after 3 out, went second when mistake last, soon ridden, stayed on to lead final 75 yards, won at Huntingdon 3m 5yo nov hcp (4) sft in Jan beating Thai Vango (11-10) by 1l, 13 ran.
Pelo Du Bief (FR) 9-2fav (9-7) Always well in rear, hampered 1st and 2 out, pulled up before last, in a race won by Ringaroses (11-12) at Huntingdon 3m nov hcp chs (0-125) (3) sft, 11 ran.
