with leader, led 6th, blundered next, ridden approaching 2 out, headed approaching last, regained lead run-in, driven out
chased leaders, ridden and weakened 3 out
held up, headway approaching 3 out, ridden approaching next, led after 2 out, blundered last, headed run-in, kept on
led and keen, headed 6th, ridden and weakened 3 out, pulled up before next
held up, not fluent 4th, pushed along approaching next, lost place 7th, tailed off
tracked leaders, ridden and outpaced when mistake 8th, went poor 3rd 2 out, weakening when hit last
Tokala, Vertical Bloom and Autumn Red are the three for the shortlist here and Tokala is taken to come out on top. Placed twice already this season, Vertical Bloom landed a touch when scoring last time in impressive fashion. He seems to be progressing and is one to fear. Paul Webber's Autumn Red has run his race on each outing this season and has two recent placed efforts to his credit. He has been backed on each occasion so may well be capable of better than he's shown to date. Tokala had won twice in bumpers and just been touched off in another under a double penalty before making a hugely impressive hurdling bow at Hereford. Tokala can shrug off a penalty and land this.
Tokala 5-4fav (11-4) Made most, clear 3 out, unchallenged, won at Hereford 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) sft beating Here We Go (10-13) by 9l, 16 ran.
Autumn Red (IRE) 4-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, every chance 3 out, soon ridden, weakened approaching last, 3rd of 18, 10l behind Ask The Gatherer (11-5) at Warwick 2m 5f nov hdl (E) gd in Nov.
Commander Kev (IRE) 11-2 (11-1) In touch, mistake and unseated rider at the 5th in race won by Tokala (11-4) at Hereford 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) sft, 16 ran.
Monsieur Delage 20-1 (10-12) Held up, weakened 6th pulled up 2 out in race won by Arry Dash (10-12) at Fakenham 2m nov hdl (E) gd in Dec, 14 ran.
Scalini's (IRE) 13-2 (10-12) Raced wide, held up in mid-division, headway before 9th, chased leaders under pressure 3 out, weakened soon after, 8th of 13, 34l behind What A Vintage (10-5) at Plumpton 2m 5f nh nov hdl (E) sft in Dec.
Vertical Bloom 9-4 (10-12) Held up, jumped well, smooth headway 6th, led last, ran on, won at Huntingdon 2m 4f mrs nov hdl (D) gd in Dec beating Harringay (10-12) by 4l, 16 ran.
Keralam (FR) 4-1 (11-2) Keen, chased leaders, led 2f out, edged left inside final furlong, ridden out, won at Ludlow 2m nhf (H) gf in May beating Princess Yum Yum (10-9) by 1 1/2l, 5 ran.
