ran without tongue strap, chased leaders, not fluent 6th or 7th, soon ridden, no impression when hit 4 out, weakened after 3 out
raced wide, held up, not fluent 10th, headway approaching 4 out, chased clear leader approaching 3 out, stayed on from 2 out to lead final 75 yards
held up, headway 8th, chased leader after 10th until after 4 out, weakening when mistake 3 out, soon pulled up
held up, ridden and behind from 8th, tailed off when jumped right and mistake 10th, pulled up before 4 out
jumped right, prominent, pushed along from 6th, weakening when jumped slowly 9th, tailed off
with leader, led 3rd, headed and hit 8th, blundered and weakened 10th, tailed off
led to 3rd, with leader, led again 8th, clear from 4 out until approaching last, no extra and headed final 75 yards
Predestine is a horse in form and gets our vote here, at the main expense of chasing newcomer The Wexford Man. The latter didn't show much in three starts over hurdles, however his future has always been over these bigger obstacles and he should put up a bold show today over a trip that promises to be a good test of stamina. Predestine is very much at home in these testing conditions and has gone up a manageable-looking 4lbs in the handicap for his recent win. That was in a tougher contest than this one, so he gets our confident selection today. Major Blue hasn't had any success over fences so far in eight attempts and doesn't hold good claims of changing that today, whilst Star Angler could improve after just three chase starts but he will certainly need to, to trouble our confident selection, Kim Bailey's Predestine.
Predestine (FR) 4-1 (9-11) Soon tracking leaders, went 2nd at 9th, blundered 4 out, ridden and not fluent 2 out, led flat, driven out, won at Haydock 3m nov hcp chs 0-120 (3) hvy beating Corlande (10-0) by 3 1/2l, 5 ran.
Star Angler (IRE) 10-1 (11-3) In touch, mistake 8th, ridden and weakened 14th, 5th of 10, 42l behind Chopneyev (10-8) at Hereford 3m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Dec.
Something Silver 14-1 (10-7) Held up, outpaced when blundered and unseated rider at the 11th in race won by Getinbybutonlyjust (11-9) at Ayr 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) hvy, 8 ran.
The Wexford Man (IRE) 25-1 (11-5) Held up in touch, ridden 5th, weakened before 3 out, 13th of 16, 37l behind French Saulaie (11-11) at Huntingdon 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft.
Angello (FR) 100-1 (11-1) Prominent until weakend 12th, tailed off and pulled up 4 out in race won by Pole Star (11-6) at Exeter 2m 7f beg chs (4) sft in Dec, 8 ran.
Major Blue 25-1 (10-3) Mid-division, headway 11th, ridden and weakened after 3 out, 3rd of 15, well behind Fisherman Jack (10-0) at Towcester 3m hcp chs 0-90 (5) hvy.
Little Villain (IRE) 12-1 (9-12) In touch, ridden, weakened after 11th, 8th of 17, well behind Tank Buster (10-8) at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs.
