keen close up, jumped right at times, led 7th, headed 11th, ridden to lead again 2 out, pressed last, hung badly right and headed flat
tracked leader until hit 7th and dropped to rear, driven and outpaced 11th, headway 3 out, challenged last, gaining near finish
tracked leaders, ridden to chase winner after 11th, blundered 3 out, soon beaten
led, headed 7th, led again soon after 11th, going clear when slow and blundered 12th, ridden and headed 2 out, led again flat, driven out
in touch, weakened 12th
mistake 1st in rear, behind when unseated rider 9th
PONCHATRAIN has now won three of his twelve chase starts which is a perfectly respectable strike rate for one of his ability and he may be able to overcome a 4lb rise in the weights to improve his tally. Wingull has the services of a top amateur and has run well enough on both starts over fences to think that he may be able to pick up one of these whilst Normandy Landings hails from a yard in great form and wouldn't need to improve a great deal for the fitting of cheekpieces to pose a threat to all. Cold Harbour and Loco Grande have come a long way down the weights and the latter has had just one run over fences so could improve whilst Bachley Gale is out of a chase winner and may improve for the switch to chasing.
PonchaTrain (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) Chased leader, led 6th, made rest, clear before 3 out, strongly pressed and driven flat, kept on on gamely when pressed towards finish, won at Lingfield 2m 4f hcp 0-90 (5) sft beating Mr Bond (11-9) by 1l, 7 ran.
Wingull (IRE) 3-1fav (11-0) Tracked leaders, ridden to chase winner approaching 4 out, stayed on same pace from 2 out, 2nd of 7, 5l behind War Party (10-13) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Oct.
Loco Grande (IRE) 14-1 (11-5) Mid-division, headway after 6th, chased winner after next, no impression approaching 2 out, lost 2nd flat, 4th of 12, 22l behind Just The Job (10-10) at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs.
Cold Harbour 8-1 (10-6) Tracked leaders, left 2nd 3rd until approaching 8th, ridden 11th, weakened 3 out, 5th of 10, 17l behind Mohi Rahrere (11-3) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp chs 0-110 (4) hvy in Oct.
Normandy Landings 3-1fav (11-3) Slight lead, narrowly headed 6th, chased winner after, driven before 11th, no impression from 3 out, weakened to 3rd last, 3rd of 7, 30l behind Qualypso D'allier (11-8) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp 0-90 (5) gs in Oct.
Bachley Gale 50-1 (10-5) Prominent, not fluent 2nd, under pressure before 3 out, soon weakened, 6th of 8, 31l behind Mediolanum (10-12) at Ffos Las 2m nov hdl (4) gs.
