tracked leaders, switched left before challenging 3 out, led next, driven out
jumped left at times, led until 2nd, led 9th, mistake and headed 11th, led 4 out, hung left and headed 2 out, stayed on flat
tracked leaders, outpaced when not fluent 4 out, soon weakened
raced freely, led 2nd until 9th, led 11th until not fluent 4 out, ridden 3 out, every chance when not fluent last, stayed on towards finish
Only four runners here but a tricky puzzle to solve nevertheless. Father Probus won at Fontwell before finishing third at Ludlow but most of his form is over further. CRIQTONIC, on the other hand, steps up in distance after finishing fourth over 2m3f at Doncaster. His earlier run behind Gus Macrae in a Listed handicap at Ascot looks the best piece of recent form and he can defy top weight in this ahead of Sustainability, who won at Newbury before being touched off at Ludlow but needs the mud to show his best. What Er Say was tailed off on his chasing bow at Doncaster but should find this easier.
Criqtonic (FR) 4-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 4 out, ridden in 3rd before last until no extra run-in, never a threat to leading pair, 4th of 8, 25l behind Easter Meteor (11-6) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp chs 0-140 (3) gs in Dec.
Sustainability (IRE) 15-8fav (11-0) Chased leader, went left 1st, slow and lost place 5th, rallied next, reminders after 8th, challenged and hit 4 out, soon ridden, driven and went 2nd before 2 out, stayed on same pace flat, 2nd of 11, 1 1/4l behind Filbert (11-0) at Ludlow 2m nov chs 0-125 (4) sft in Jan.
What Er Say 50-1 (11-0) In rear, soon well behind, tailed off, last of 4, well behind Overturn (11-7) at Doncaster 2m 3f nov chs (4) gs in Jan.
Father Probus 5-1 (11-11) Led, ridden and joined 4 out, headed next, chased winner until last, 3rd and one pace flat, 3rd of 11, 3 1/2l behind Milo Milan (11-6) at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Jan.
