in touch, jumped slowly 4th and lost place, headway 6th, ridden and lost place 9th, weakened 4 out, pulled up 2 out
tracked leader, ridden 3 out, weakened next
held up, ridden 9th, weakened 4 out, pulled up 2 out
close up, chased leader 12th, led after 3 out, ridden clear next, kept on
held up, keen, ridden 13th, 4 lengths down when fell next
held up, headway halfway, ridden and weakened 2 out
led, ridden and headed after 3 out, kept on one pace
Kerry's Blade has time on his side and can defy a penalty, with Kristoffersen, Cross The Highman and John Diamond seen as the main dangers. Kerry's Blade is still only a four-year-old but has already shown what he is capable of over fences, brushing older rivals aside at Sedgefield on the way to an emphatic success. Today's trip and ground are ideal for Pat Haslam's youngster, who surely has a good few pounds improvement to come. Kristoffersen was pulled up at Stratford on his return from a small break, and the topweight will need to brush up his jumping to trouble the selection, while Cross The Highman always seems to find one too good and cannot be relied on. John Diamond has been absent since unseating his rider over hurdles at Towcester in May and now makes his chase debut. This will be more his cup of tea, but again, a watching brief is advised, with preference much for the form horse Kerry's Blade who should be followed until beaten.
Kristoffersen 11-1 (11-8) Always in rear, blundered 4 out, tailed off when pulled up in race won by Another Joker (11-11) at Stratford 2m 7f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gf in Sept, 9 ran.
Adelphi Theatre (USA) 14-1 (11-3) Tracked leader, blundered 8th, weakened 12th, 10th of 15, 34l behind Glacial Delight (11-11) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Jan.
Cross The Highman (IRE) 17-2 (11-5) Held up, closer order 9th, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, weakened next, 5th of 12, 9l behind Terramarique (11-1) at Huntingdon 3m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf in Sept.
John Diamond (IRE) 11-4fav (11-0) Chased leaders, stumbled 2nd, 3rd and 3 lengths down when mistake and unseated rider 3 out in race won by Different Class (11-0) at Towcester 2m nov hdl (4) sft in May, 15 ran.
Kerry's Blade (IRE) 16-1 (10-9) Held up, headway halfway, led on bit 2 out, ran on well flat, comfortably, won at Sedgefield 2m 5f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gf in Sept beating Karo De Vindecy (10-3) by 6l, 9 ran.
Magic Route (IRE) 8-1 (10-1) Chased leaders, ridden and outpaced 10th, soon behind, 8th of 9, well behind Kerry's Blade (10-9) at Sedgefield 2m 5f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gf in Sept.
Royal China (IRE) 8-1 (11-7) Towards rear, headway after 8th, weakening when fell 5 out in race won by Sam Adamson (9-11) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-90 (5) gd in Sept, 17 ran.
