chased leading pair, mistake 3rd, hit 7th, jumped slowly 9th and ridden, dropped to 5th when mistake and unseated rider next
chased leaders, went 2nd after 8th, led before 10th, over 1 length ahead when pecked 2 out, soon ridden, headed last, weakened flat
took keen hold, chased leader, led approaching 3rd until 6th, chased leader until after 8th, ridden and weakened 11th, went poor 4th last
took keen hold, close 5th tracking leaders, went 3rd 10th, stayed on to 2nd before 2 out, lost 2nd blundered and weakened quickly from 2 out
held up towards rear, reminders after 5th, never on terms, tailed off
took keen hold, led until approaching 3rd, led again 6th until approaching 10th, chased leader until dropped to 3rd before 2 out, rallied to 2nd 2 out, led last, stayed on well, driven out
held up towards rear, headway to 4th at 12th, went poor 3rd last
well in rear, tailed off 10th, pulled up after 3 out
Quite a competitive little novice chase and MERRION SQUARE is taken to score on his chasing debut. An Irish point-to-point winner, he'll have no problem with trip or ground and was in no way disgraced on his first run for Team Nicholls when a solid enough fifth at Chepstow. He's always looked a chaser in the making and is preferred to Cheney Manor. The latter has been runner-up on his two chase outings behind All For Free and Global Flyer but there is just a concern that this trip may stretch his stamina and he may be outstayed by the selection. El Padrino has fair each-way claims, whilst Lucy Wadham will have been pleased to see The Black Baron complete last time and he too has place claims along with Inner Steel.
Cheney Manor 4-1 (11-5) Pressed winner, led 9th until hit next, led 11th, hit 3 out, ridden and headed approaching last, no extra flat, 2nd of 6, 13l behind Global Flyer (11-12) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft.
El Padrino (IRE) 25-1 (11-5) Mistake 1st, in rear, hit 7th, chased leaders 4 out, effort on outside when pecked next, stayed on to go 3rd last, no chance with winner, 3rd of 9, 11l behind Moleskin (11-5) at Kempton 3m nov hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd.
Inner Steel (IRE) 9-2 (10-12) Led, jumped left 6th and 7th, headed 3 out, weakened next, 4th of 6, 19l behind Chac Du Cadran (10-12) at Towcester 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Nov.
Merrion Square (IRE) 9-2 (11-0) Tracked leaders, weakened from 4 out, 5th of 15, 29l behind Knock A Hand (11-0) at Chepstow 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) hvy in Nov.
Red Anchor (IRE) 100-1 (10-9) Held up in rear, hit 5th, headway to 5th next, struggling 7th, tailed off, 5th of 7, well behind Flemi Two Toes (11-2) at Folkestone 2m 6f nov hdl (4) hvy.
The Black Baron (IRE) 6-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, not fluent 1st, mistake next, went 3rd after 6th, never any chance, 3rd of 5, 45l behind Kid Cassidy (11-0) at Ludlow 2m beg chase (4) gs.
Venetian Lad 9-2 (11-4) Chased leadrs, lost place before 9th, struggling in rear next, tailed off, 7th of 12, 28l behind Hazy Bay (11-10) at Plumpton 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Dec.
Rio Caribe (IRE) 100-1 (9-9) Mid-division, lost touch over 5f out, 11th of 12, well behind Mount Crystal (8-12) at Southwell 1m 4f mdn stks (5) fbs in Nov (flat).
