tracked leaders, ridden run-in, kept on to take 2nd place towards finish, always held
held up in rear, headway before 3 out, led after last, kept on well
held up towards rear, weakened from 2 out
in touch in 4th, led 3 out, headed after last, no extra and lost 2nd place towards finish
tracked leader, weakened from 2 out
led, headed 3 out, weakened next
FISHER still looks to be heading in the right direction and won a shade cosily at Ayr last month. He probably has more scope than Lightening Rod. The latter has won three times over course and distance and Harry Bannister's claim will aid his cause again but his latest win hasn't been franked and he's never won off a mark this high. A slightly longer trip might have suited Ubaltique, who raced over fences on his reappearance, but Raven's Tower and Kumbeshwar have the past form to figure and would be interesting if attracting market support.
Fisher 9-1 (11-12) Held up, headway 4 out, went 2nd 3 out, mistake 2 out, led flat, stayed on, won at Ayr 2m (3) gs in Nov beating Circus Star (10-2) by 3l, 7 ran.
Lightening Rod 8-1 (11-5) Held up in rear, headway after 4 out, went 3rd before 3 out, led before last, soon clear, won at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Oct beating Pertuis (10-0) by 7l, 12 ran.
Ubaltique (FR) 20-1 (11-2) Keen held up in rear, ridden 3 out, weakened approaching last, last of 5, 30l behind Duke Of Navan (11-2) at Carlisle 2m beg chs (4) sft in Oct.
Raven's Tower (USA) 66-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, every chance when not fluent 2 out, lost place before last, weakened, 14th of 15, 37l behind Garde La Victoire (11-9) at Cheltenham 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft in Nov.
Kumbeshwar 7-2 (11-9) Led, hit 2nd, headed 8th, not fluent and beaten 3 out, soon weakened, last of 5, 28l behind Definite Dream (11-2) at Ayr 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Nov.
Vivacissimo (IRE) 12-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, outpaced after 3 out, soon weakened, jumped left 2 out, 9th of 10, 24l behind Malanos (10-0) at Leicester 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) hvy in Nov.
