close up, not fluent 2nd, hit 5 out, led narrowly before 4 out, ridden before 2 out, stayed on well to assert well before last
led, mistake 5 out, headed narrowly before 4 out, pushed along 4 out, remained pressing leader until well before last, no extra
chased leaders, mistake 10th, in close 3rd when fell 13th
held up in rear, in touch, left in 3rd 13th, ridden and left behind by front pair 4 out, unseated rider
Spider's Bite, 0-10 over fences, looks up against it but the remaining trio all have claims. HUNTSMANS JOG found only one too good in a couple of runs at Chepstow last month. Liam Harrison again takes off 3lb and his yard remains in cracking form so he is probably the one to beat ahead of The Macon Lugnatic, a dual winner here over hurdles and lightly raced over fences, and The Newest One, who was beaten at Warwick after scoring at Newton Abbot and has gone up a further 2lb.
The Newest One (IRE) 11-4fav (11-12) Chased leader until 6th, chased leaders, lost place and outpaced 15th, rallied3 out, went 2nd before 2 out, stayed on same pace, no chance with winner, 2nd of 8, 3l behind Head On (10-6) at Warwick 3m 1f hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Huntsmans Jog (IRE) 3-1 (11-11) Led, jumped well, headed 5 out, soon ridden but remained pressing leader home straight until after last when no extra run-in, 2nd of 6, 3 3/4l behind Young Offender (11-7) at Chepstow 3m 2f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
The Macon Lugnatic 12-1 (11-11) In rear, pushed along 4th, ridden 8th, headway 3 out, kept on one pace, 4th of 11, 6 1/2l behind Yggdrasil (10-11) at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Spider's Bite (IRE) 12-1 (11-9) Tracked winner, pushed along briefly after 9th, lost 2nd and weakened before 3 out, 4th of 5, dist behind Animore (10-12) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Oct.
