close up, chased clear winner 3 out, beaten next
close up, ridden and lost place 4th, behind 6th, pulled up before 4 out
led, headed 7th, weakened before 3 out, pulled up next
keen, held up, headway to track leaders 3rd, led soon after 7th, not fluent next, clear from 3 out, eased flat, comfortable
tracked leaders, reminders 5th, in rear next, pulled up before 4 out
held up, headway 5th, tracked leaders, hit 7th, soon ridden, struggling 3 out, pulled up next
raced wide, prominent, led 7th, ridden and soon headed, chased winner until 3 out, weakened next, tailed off
Christmas Twenty and Indian Daudaie are hard to fancy in this but none of the others can be dismissed out of hand. Ballinure is not one of Nicky Henderson's stable stars but his trainer's record here is second to none. Actinpieces makes her handicap debut but is unbeaten so far over timber while Old Pride was only beaten a head at Ludlow in November, though has been raised 5lb since. Hidden Justice showed enough last time to suggests he should go well in this grade but BOWDLER'S MAGIC is given the opportunity to bounce back from a below-par run at Aintree last time and add to his course and distance victory in the autumn.
Bowdler's Magic 14-1 (10-9) Pressed leader until ridden before 2 out, weakened flat, 5th of 9, 19 3/4l behind Virgilio (11-6) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Hidden Justice (IRE) 10-1 (11-2) Towards rear, some headway after 3 out, never dangerous, 6th of 11, 12l behind Red Devil Boys (11-8) at Doncaster 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Old Pride (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Took keen hold, led until 2nd, soon led again, headed 4th, led again before 6th, joined last, edged left and headed flat, stayed on, just held, 2nd of 15, hd behind Kublai (11-12) at Ludlow 2m 5f hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Actinpieces 8-11fav (11-3) Tracked leaders, not much room on bend after 3 out, challenged when blundered 2 out, pressed leader last, led run-in, pushed out, won at Catterick 2m 3f (4) gs in Dec beating Shine Away (10-10) by 3 1/4l, 7 ran.
Christmas Twenty (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) In touch in mid-division, ridden after 5th, weakened from 3 out, 6th of 15, 30 1/2l behind Cyrius Moriviere (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m (4) gs in Dec.
Ballinure (IRE) 3-1 (10-12) Led, mistake when headed 5 out, rallied 3 out, jumped right next, weakened before last, 3rd of 9, 19 1/4l behind Dueling Banjos (10-12) at Kempton 2m 5f (4) gd in Nov.
Indian Daudaie (FR) 50-1 (10-10) Held up, pushed along approaching 10th, weakened 12th, behind and pulled up before 4 out, at Lingfield 2m 7f hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
