held up in rear, hit 11th, ridden and struggling 18th, well beaten from 4 out
held up in rear, mistake 9th, headway on inside before 17th, ridden and weakened before 4 out
held up towards rear, not fluent 3rd, headway 8th, lost place 14th, well behind 4 out
chased leaders, mistake and lost place 9th, not fluent 12th, closed before 17th, driven and one pace 2 out
with leader, led before 3rd until 4th, stayed close 2nd until fell 3 out
prominent, led 4th, not fluent 8th or 18th, ridden and edged right last, hung right flat, stayed on well, drawing clear inside final 100 yards
held up in touch in mid-division, ridden on 3rd after 3 out, not fluent 2 out, stayed on same pace
led until before 3rd, hit 11th, lost place before 15th, well behind 4 out, pulled up before next
held up towards rear on inside, mistake 9th, headway after 12th, blundered 4 out, left 2nd when not fluent next, stayed on to press winner last, no impression final 150 yards and no extra towards finish
chased leaders on outside, pushed along 17th, outpaced 3 out, no impression after
Four of these were pulled up on their latest start while half of the field will have to carry more than their allotted weight, though Sean Bowen's claim should help veteran Pigeon Island. CHARINGWORTH is no youngster himself but looked as good as ever when chasing home The Young Master here in October and went one better under Harry Bannister at the track last month. A 6lb rise complicates matters but he's clearly in great heart and his ability to handle these fences is a major plus. Lamb Or Cod would have a chance if back to his best and Hadrian's Approach, winner of the bet365 Gold Cup in the spring, is a class act. Cowards Close is open to further improvement this season while Samstown and The Ould Lad are progressive chasers but upped in class today.
Hadrian's Approach (IRE) 10-1 (11-0) Held up, headway 18th, ridden after 4 out, went 2nd 2 out, driven to lead flat, stayed on, won at Sandown 3m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Apr beating Burton Port (10-9) by 3/4l, 19 ran.
Lamb Or Cod (IRE) 9-1 (11-9) Held up towards rear, well behind 18th, soon pulled up, in a race won by Sam Winner (11-12) at Cheltenham 3m 3f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) sft in Nov, 14 ran.
Samstown 6-1 (11-7) Held up in touch, headway 9th, led approaching 2 out, pressed last, ridden and stayed on, won at Kelso 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Nov beating The Last Samuri (11-12) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Charingworth (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Always prominent, outpaced in 3rd 3 out, switched inside next, rallied approaching last, ridden to lead flat, stayed on gamely, won at Cheltenham 3m 1f am hcp chs 0-140 (3) sft in Nov beating Benbens (11-9) by 3 1/2l, 11 ran.
Standing Ovation (IRE) 9-2fav (11-0) Prominent, pushed along brielfy after 12th, not much room and lost place 17th, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by The Young Master (10-13) at Wincanton 3m 1f listed hcp chs (1) gs in Nov, 18 ran.
Benbane Head (USA) 11-2 (11-12) Led, mistake 6th, took wrong course 7th and pulled up, in a race won by Adrenalin Flight (11-1) at Exeter 4m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs, 11 ran.
Cowards Close (IRE) 4-5fav (11-5) Disputed lead mistake 11th, ridden and headed narrowly before last, regained narrow lead after last, kept on and headed near finish, 2nd of 4, shd behind Allthekingshorses (10-9) at Wincanton 3m 1f nov chs (4) gs in May.
Shattered Dream (IRE) 50-1 (10-9) Led 3rd until 7th, led 14th, headed next, led 16th until 18th, weakened after 3 out, pulled up before next, in a race won by Sam Winner (11-12) at Cheltenham 3m 3f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) sft in Nov, 14 ran.
The Ould Lad (IRE) 9-4fav (11-10) Mid-division, mistake 1st, headway when mistake 11th, challenging when not fluent 4 out, led 3 out, clear last, easily, won at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs in Nov beating Winged Crusader (11-0) by 8l, 11 ran.
Pigeon Island 20-1 (9-6) Towards rear, mistake 11th, ridden 18th, modest progress after 3 out, never on terms and well beaten 2 out, 5th of 14, 40l behind Sam Winner (11-12) at Cheltenham 3m 3f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) sft in Nov.
