held up in rear, under pressure approaching 4 out, soon beaten, behind when pulled up before last
held up in rear, hard driven 4 out, soon weakened
tracked leader, lost place 4th, soon beaten
raced keenly, tracked leaders, mistake 2nd, driven to challenge approaching 2 out, soon every chance, not fluent last, no extra flat
made all, mistake 2nd, strongly challenged 2 out, hard ridden approaching last, stayed on well
held up mid-division, headway halfway, soon chasing leaders, mistake 4 out, weakened after next, moderate 4th when mistake last
mid-division, pushed along approaching 4 out, soon weakened
keen hold, soon prominent, jumped slowly 3rd, hard driven 4 out, weakening when jumped left 2 out, faded
held up in rear, headway 4 out, went 3rd next, stayed on under pressure, never able to challenge
Secret Edge appears to have the beating of Chadford on the form book but was receiving 8lb when beating Countrywide Flame by half-a-length at Wetherby in October and has since finished behind HOLLOW TREE at Cheltenham. Donald McCain's charge is 4lb worse off now but can confirm that running and looks the one to beat in this if handling the heavy ground, though Countrywide Flame is as tough as old boots and won't go down without a fight. School For Scandal was a little keen when only fifth at Doncaster last time and won't get home if he fails to settle here while Kapga De Cerisy has been beaten regularly in France over recent months, though will probably handle conditions better than most and makes more appeal than Warwick winner Brilliant Barca and the exposed pair Captain Sharpe and Rasam Aldaar.
Brilliant Barca 11-1 (10-9) Prominent, not fluent 3 out, soon ridden, mistake 2 out, switched right approaching last, ran on to lead close home, won at Warwick 2m 3yo hdl (4) gd beating Stentorian (10-7) by 3/4l, 14 ran.
Captain Sharpe 8-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders in 3rd and keen, chased winner from 3rd, ridden before 2 out, soon beaten, 2nd of 5, 12l behind Hollow Tree (11-5) at Ffos Las 2m 3yo hdl (4) sft in Nov.
Chadford 11-4 (11-5) Close up, led 4 out, ridden and pressed before last, kept on well towards finish, won at Catterick 2m 3yo hdl (4) gd in Nov beating Uncle Bryn (10-12) by 1 3/4l, 12 ran.
Countrywide Flame 4-9fav (11-2) Made all, not fluent 2nd and rider lost iron until after next, not fluent 2 out, clear when again not fluent last, comfortably, won at Sedgefield 2m 1f 3yo hdl (4) gd in Nov beating Eagle Rock (10-12) by 8l, 6 ran.
Hollow Tree Evens0fav (11-5) Made all, shaken up before 2 out, clear before last, eased, won at Ffos Las 2m 3yo hdl (4) sft in Nov beating Captain Sharpe (10-12) by 12l, 5 ran.
Kapga De Cerisy (FR) 16-1 (10-5) 5th of 11, 20l behind Esmondo (10-5) at Auteuil(FR) 2m 2f 3yo hdl Grd 1 (1) hvy in Nov.
Rasam Aldaar 8-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, led 2nd, clear 3rd until not fluent next, ridden approaching 2 out, edged left after 2 out, stayed on, won at Sandown 2m 3yo hdl (4) gs beating Malanos (11-2) by 1 1/4l, 6 ran.
School For Scandal (IRE) 5-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders in 3rd, pushed along before 3 out, ridden before 2 out, soon outpaced, kept on from last, 5th of 7, 5l behind Royal Bonsai (11-2) at Doncaster 2m 3yo hdl Grd 2 (1) gs.
Secret Edge 8-11fav (11-5) Tracked leaders, joined leaders 6th, led approaching 2 out, driven clear between last 2, stayed on, well in command flat, won at Fontwell 2m 2f 3yo hdl (4) sft beating Reggie Perrin (10-12) by 8l, 8 ran.
