always towards rear, tailed off 4 out
held up towards rear, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
towards rear, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
with leaders until weakened from 5 out, soon tailed off
always behind, tailed off from 4 out
close up, pushed along after 7th, soon weakened, tailed off
tracked leaders, weakened from 3 out
made all, ridden and kept on well from last
held up towards rear, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
held up mid-division, went 4th before 2 out, soon weakened
held up mid-division, went 4th 2 out, pushed along before, no impression
always towards rear
held up towards rear, hit 7th, challenged and chased winner 3 out until weakened last
chased leaders, pushed along and weakened before 4 out
always towards rear, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
held up mid-division, went 3rd before 2 out, chased winner from last, kept on
The handicapper bumped up Derwen Pryde 14lb after her latest win at Uttoxeter and that may do for her here. Ukrainian Star is better known as a chaser but stays well and acts on soft ground so has to be considered while veteran Rifleman looked as though he was coming to hand at Ludlow last time when just behind Derwen Pryde but ahead of Border Lad, third over a shorter trip here subsequently. TIP OF MY TONGUE has only had five starts over hurdles and his latest effort, when runner-up at Southwell, was his best yet. He's entitled to improve further over today's longer distance so gets the vote, though Acosta has a good record over today's C&D.
Estate 28-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, soon beaten, 8th of 16, 15l behind Lucky Lukey (10-2) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gf in Oct.
Rifleman (IRE) 15-2 (11-5) Held up towards rear and raced wide, jumped left 3rd, headway before 3 out, one pace and no impression, 4th of 9, 7l behind Maderson Blue (10-2) at Ludlow 2m 5f am hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Nov.
Constant Cupid (IRE) 33-1 (10-10) Always behind, struggling 4 out, tailed off, 11th of 13, well behind Lord Crewe (11-1) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Nov.
Perkin Warbeck 10-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, upsides 8th, 7th and weakening before 2 out, 6th of 12, 28l behind Valid Point (11-10) at Towcester 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Nov.
Mr Redwood 20-1 (10-11) Held up in rear, behind 8th, tailed off, 8th of 13, well behind Tour Des Champs (10-13) at Stratford 2m 6f mdn hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Gentleman Jimmy 7-1 (11-1) Always towards rear, 9th of 10, 44l behind Ethiopia (11-3) at Towcester 3m hcp chs 0-100 (4) gf in May.
Derawar (IRE) 8-1 (11-5) Ran in snatches, chased leaders, behind from 3rd, pushed along after 6th, reminders after 13th, kept on to press for modest 3rd before last until weakened flat, tailed off, 4th of 5, 46l behind Oncle Kid (11-7) at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Nov.
Ukrainian Star (IRE) 3-1 (11-12) Slight lead, narrowly headed approaching 5th, chased leader until after 13th, mistake and driven 4 out, soon no chance with front pair, blundered 3 out, tailed off, 3rd of 5, 36l behind Oncle Kid (11-7) at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Nov.
Tip Of My Tongue (IRE) 5-1 (11-1) Took keen hold, tracked leaders on inside, went 2nd and hung left from 2 out, ridden and no impression before last, 2nd of 8, 3l behind Crack At Dawn (10-10) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Nov.
Salut Honore (FR) 20-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders on inside, hit 3rd, weakened approaching 3 out, 4th of 11, 23l behind Derwen Pryde (10-7) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gs in Nov.
Seymour Eric 33-1 (10-10) In touch, lost place after 4 out, weakened next, 13th of 17, 14l behind Cocacobana (10-6) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Nov.
My Viking Bay (IRE) 25-1 (10-11) Mid-division, headway 4 out, soon chased leaders in 3rd, no impression, 5th of 17, 22l behind Kateal (11-12) at Chepstow 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) hvy in Nov.
Bringewood Belle 33-1 (10-6) Never better than mid-division, 9th of 12, 32l behind Valid Point (11-10) at Towcester 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Nov.
Border Lad 4-1 (10-6) Led, driven before 2 out, joined on long run to last, headed before last, soon no extra in 3rd, 3rd of 11, 13l behind Jackers (11-2) at Hereford 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gs in Nov.
Fletch And Lenny (IRE) 33-1 (10-11) Behind, poor 7th 2 out, never on terms, 7th of 11, 38l behind Jackers (11-2) at Hereford 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gs in Nov.
Acosta 20-1 (10-5) Prominent, every chance approaching 3 out, hampered 2 out, one pace and beaten when hit last, 3rd of 11, 6l behind Derwen Pryde (10-7) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gs in Nov.
Converti 80-1 (9-9) Chased winner until approaching 8th (water), lost place after next, poor 8th when blundered badly and almost unseated rider 2 out, tailed off, 7th of 11, well behind Sarika (11-5) at Exeter 3m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs.
Derwen Pryde 11-4 (10-7) Tracked leaders, hit 5th, not fluent 8th, jumped right and went 2nd 2 out, challenged last, bumped flat, led near finish, won at Uttoxeter 3m hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gs in Nov beating Another Miracle (11-9) by hd, 11 ran.
