chased leaders, reminder to lead narrowly after 10th, mistake and headed 12th, chased leader, led again 2 out, (normal 4 out), headed bypsssing ommited 2 out, weakened soon after
in touch, ridden and outpaced 13th, blundered 5 out, struggling after 3 out
chased leader, led 12th, narrowly headed 2 out (normal 4 out), led again bypassing omitted 2 out, hard driven run-in, stayed on gamely, all out
led until headed after 10th, chased leaders, pushed along in 3rd before 2 out, no extra last, lost modest 3rd towards finish
took keen hold, chased leaders, went 2nd before omitted 2 out, stayed on well run-in, always just held
behind, mistake and struggling 13th, in rear when blundered 2 out, pulled up soon after
held up in last pair, not fluent 9th, stayed on well from last, went 3rd towards finish
in touch, headway to chase leaders 13th, not fluent next, weakened before 2 out
This is likely to turn into a real slog and Quacity and Definite Appeal will both be carrying more than their allotted weight - the latter may also struggle on the ground. COTSWOLD CHARMER could improve for the big step up in trip and appears to have the beating of Railway Dillon on a line through Bangor and Haydock winner Quartz De Thaix. He gets a tentative vote with Lord Villez usually managing to find at least one too good and Captain Americo making his seasonal reappearance. Mortimers Cross stays well and shouldn't be far away, however, while Harouet kept on well when scoring over 3m2f at Carlisle and likes the mud.
Railway Dillon (IRE) 12-1 (11-10) Led, blundered 9th ridden and headed before 2 out, one pace, 4th of 11, 15l behind Quartz De Thaix (11-12) at Haydock 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft in Nov.
Harouet (FR) 11-1 (11-3) Held up towards rear, headway before 6 out, went 2nd 3 out, led run-in, kept on, driven out, won at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in Nov beating Super Ally (10-2) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Mortimers Cross 10-1 (11-0) Disputed lead, mistake 12th, not fluent 4 out, headed before last, kept on, 2nd of 9, 1l behind Incentivise (10-0) at Fontwell 3m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Nov.
Lord Villez (FR) 16-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, outpaced before 4 out, kept on to go 4th from last, one pace and no impression, 3rd of 9, 15l behind Across The Bay (11-9) at Kelso 3m 2f hcp chs 0-140 (3) hvy in Oct.
Captain Americo (IRE) 10-1 (11-12) Held up in touch, pushed along before 10th, reminders and lost place before 12th, tailed off when blundered 17th, soon pulled up, in a race won by Cerium (10-1) at Perth 3m 7f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Apr, 11 ran.
Cotswold Charmer (IRE) 3-1fav (10-7) Held up towards rear, headway to track leaders 5 out, ridden and effort to challenge 2 out, soon chased winner, kept on same pace, no impression with winner from last, 2nd of 10, 7l behind Quartz De Thaix (11-7) at Bangor 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Nov.
Quacity (FR) 8-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, went 3rd 4 out, ridden before 3 out, one pace 2 out, 3rd of 8, 4l behind Definite Appeal (10-7) at Newcastle 3m hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Nov.
Definite Appeal (IRE) 10-1 (10-7) Mid-division, challenged from 5 out, pressed from 4 out, ridden before last, kept on gamely to lead towards finish, won at Newcastle 3m hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Nov beating Bob Will (9-11) by nk, 8 ran.
