chased leaders, weakened 2 out, tailed off when pulled up approaching last
chased leaders, hanging right, led soon after 2 out, continued to hang right, mistake last, headed and unable to quicken flat
chased leader, mistake and narrow lead 3 out, headed soon after, chased leader until approaching last, no extra flat
led, headed 3 out, weakened quickly after next, tailed off when pulled up before last
raced wide, held up in rear, ridden approaching 2 out and soon beaten
held up in rear, headway going well after 2 out, chased leader last, driven ahead flat
held up in rear, headway 3 out, chased leaders approaching last, went 3rd near finish
held up in touch, hard ridden and weakened between last 2, tailed off
held up, effort after 2 out, ridden and weakened well before last
Nonrunner
Rustler could be the answer to this ttricky finale, with Ndola and Mount Benger put forward as the main rivals. Nicky Henderson is in fine form at present and Rustler could be spot on for this following two promising efforts this campaign. Both those races were much stronger than this and the drop in class could be just what he needs to show his best. Ndola is trained by Barney Curley so obviously the market will guide. He hasn't raced over the jumps for a while but has popped up on the flat and could have got in here on a very fair mark. Mount Benger comes here in winning form having beaten a modest field at Hereford last time out. The seven pound penalty may be enough to stop the follow up but he should still be in the thick of the action. All in all a difficult race to assess and just a narrow vote is given to Rustler.
Akash (IRE) 50-1 (10-11) Chased leader, ridden approaching 3 out, one pace from 2 out, 7th of 21, 23l behind Climate Change (11-0) at Newbury 2m mdn hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Corker 14-1 (11-5) In touch, chased leaders after 2 out, soon weakened, 4th of 7, 7l behind Sobers (11-12) at Folkestone 2m 1f nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Dance With Wolves (FR) 5-2fav (10-8) Tracked leader, led 3rd, clear after last, ridden out, won at Plumpton 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) hvy in Dec beating City of Manchester (11-7) by 12l, 12 ran.
Isam Top (FR) 5-4fav (9-10) Chased leaders, went prominent 3rd until 5th, soon driven along, led after 3 out until next, weakened last, 4th of 8, 15l behind Hereditary (10-1) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Dec.
Mount Benger 5-1fav (10-9) Held up, towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, led last, driven out, won at Hereford 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Dec beating Star Double (11-3) by 1l, 16 ran.
Asaateel (IRE) 10-1 (10-8) Held up, headway to chase leaders 6th, outpaced from 2 out, 3rd of 14, 12l behind Grey Samurai (10-11) at Southwell 2m nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs in Dec.
Ndola 33-1 (10-10) In touch to 5th, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Make My Hay (11-5) at Huntingdon 2m nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs, 17 ran.
Rustler 14-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, went 2nd well before 3 out, stayed on straight, weakened 2 out, 4th of 12, 22l behind Silverburn (11-0) at Newbury 2m nov hdl (3) sft in Nov.
