led narrowly to 3rd, in touch, lead again 7th, hard pressed 2 out, soon ridden, headed when mistake last, no extra flat
behind, struggling 12th, headway 16th, chased leading pair after 4 out, kept on same pace, not reach front pair
in touch on outside, outpaced 5 out, weakened before 3 out, tailed off
prominent, on outside, outpaced 4 out, weakened next, tailed off when pulled up after 2 out
soon behind, reminders 15th, weakened 5 out, tailed off when pulled up next
soon in touch, went 2nd before 4 out, challenged 2 out, led last, ridden out flat
with leader, led 3rd to 7th, in touch, lost place after 12th, behind from 14th, tailed off when pulled up 4 out
held up in touch when fell 1st
chased leaders to 15th, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up after 4 out
Course regular Buck's Bond will no doubt figure for the Nicholls' yard having gone close over these fences on his penultimate start. Saroque should be sharper for a comeback run at Sandown where he made several mistakes and never looked like catching the winner. Kudu Shine made a decent start over the larger obstacles with a third at Chepstow but Master Neo makes more appeal dropping back down in class after a couple of outings in Grade-level handicaps. BEST BOY BARNEY (NAP) found only one too good here in October and ran well again at Ludlow when third to Gorsky Island. The latter has gone in again since so Jeremy Scott's charge gets the nod on that form.
Saroque (IRE) 8-1 (11-9) Raced freely, led, mistake 12th, headed 14th, soon under pressure, kept on, no chance with easy winner, 2nd of 9, 21l behind Le Reve (11-11) at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Nov.
Monkerty Tunkerty 5-1 (11-12) Chased leader, mistake 7th, soon towards rear, weakened from 17th, pulled up, in a race won by Flying Award (10-13) at Wincanton 3m 3f hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy in Jan, 9 ran.
Harouet (FR) 10-1 (11-0) Held up in touch, went left 9th, driven 4 out, weakened before next, 5th of 8, 26l behind Count Guido Deiro (11-2) at Lingfield 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy.
Buck's Bond (FR) 7-2 (11-11) Mid-division on outside, headway 6th, led 11th, soon headed, led 15th, mistake and headed 2 out, one pace and beaten last, 4th of 10, 10l behind Ziga Boy (11-4) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd.
Master Neo (FR) 25-1 (10-2) Mistake and rider lost iron briefly 2nd, always towards rear, tailed off, 14th of 25, well behind Oscar Time (10-12) at Aintree 3m 2f hcp chs G3 (1) gs.
Loch Ba (IRE) 9-2 (11-11) Chased winner, jumped slowly 4th, slow again and lost 2nd next, chased leaders, losing place when driven after 6th, behind next, blundered last, tailed off, 6th of 7, well behind Vazaro Delafayette (10-8) at Newbury 2m 5f nov hcp hdl 0-120 (4) sft in Nov.
Best Boy Barney (IRE) 20-1 (11-3) Prominent, led 3rd, headed 6th, led next, headed 3 out, mistake 2 out, stayed on same pace, lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 9, 3l behind Gorsky Island (11-5) at Ludlow 3m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Nov.
Kudu Shine 7-1 (10-3) Mid-division, chased winner after 9th, went right final 3, no extra in 3rd before the last, 3rd of 8, 13l behind Minellahalfcentury (10-9) at Chepstow 3m nov hcap ch (3) gs.
Goring One (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, lost place before 8th, ridden 12th, mistake 14th, blundered next, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Ziga Boy (11-4) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd, 10 ran.
