held up mistake 4th, lost place 8th, fell 9th
in touch, weakened at 9th, hanging right, slow jump 13th, pulled up before next
always prominent, chased winner from 8th, disputed lead 12th, hung left and outpaced 4 out, rallied flat
always behind, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
held up rear, headway 9th, poor 4th when slow jump 13th, soon weakened
held up mid-division, towards rear when badly hampered and unseated rider 9th
always towards rear, fell 4 out
made all, hit 12th, went clear 4 out, hit 2 out, driven out
towards rear when blundered and unseated rider 4th
prominent, ridden along 11th, weakened approaching 5 out
held up towards rear, some headway 7th, weakened before 5 out, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
chased winner to 8th, weakened 13th
King Bee faces no easy task giving weight away all round but is taken to defy his 7lb rise for a win at Warwick last time and confirm running there with Datito in a race where the main danger could come from Graceful Dancer. The last mentioned has won his last two, latterly back over fences at Towcester, but has been punished by the handicapper for those successes and may now be best watched. Bubble Boy is less exposed than most but would need to improve significantly on his reappearance effort behind Eurotrek at Newbury to trouble the judge. Cinnamon Line was similarly disappointing on his return, while Precious Bane is probably a shade high in the weights at present. Tradingup has still yet to win a race but is open to improvement and has to be considered but the vote goes to King Bee, who seemed to win with a bit in hand at Wetherby and may be able to confirm placings there with Datito.
King Bee (IRE) 2-1fav (11-8) Led to 13th, ridden to lead 2 out, driven out, won at Warwick 3m hcp chs 0-120 (D) sft in Dec beating Datito (11-7) by 3l, 5 ran.
Bubble Boy (IRE) 5-1 (10-12) Tracked leader, blundered 17th, soon no chance and eased from 4 out, tailed off, 4th of 8, well behind Eurotrek (11-5) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs 0-130 (C) gs in Dec.
Datito (IRE) 7-2 (11-7) Tracked leaders, outpaced 4 out, soon ridden, stayed on from 2 out, 2nd of 5, 3l behind King Bee (11-8) at Warwick 3m hcp chs 0-120 (D) sft in Dec.
Cinnamon Line 33-1 (10-12) In rear, mistake 8th, jumped right 11th pulled up at the 12th in race won by Ladalko (11-11) at Newbury 3m amt hcp chs 0-125 (E) gd in Nov, 11 ran.
Graceful Dancer 9-2jt-fav (10-11) Led, headed 3rd, ridden 13th, led again 2 out, ridden clear approaching last, won at Towcester 3m chs 0-90 (F) gs in Dec beating Five Alley (11-0) by 9l, 14 ran.
Precious Bane (IRE) 7-2 (10-10) Led, clear after 3rd until mistake 8th, not jumped well after, weakened approaching 2 out, 3rd of 10, 25l behind Another Native (10-9) at Haydock 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-120 (D) sft in Dec.
Tradingup (IRE) 9-2jt-fav (10-13) Chased leaders until 4th, behind from 8th, tailed off when pulled up 5 out in race won by First De La Brunie (10-5) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs (4) sft, 12 ran.
Lucky Leader (IRE) 28-1 (9-11) Held up, headway 10th, not fluent 13th, soon pressed winner, ridden after next, every chance when not fluent last, no extra, 3rd of 15, 2l behind Nas Na Riogh (11-7) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs.
