chased winner until 4th, lost place before 6th, well behind when pulled up before 4 out
held up in rear on outside, headway when not fluent 3rd, went 2nd 9th, ridden 2 out, held by winner last, soon lost 2nd, weakened flat
made all, asserting when jumped right last, clear flat, eased towards finish
held up in touch behind leaders, dived at 3 out, went 2nd just after last, no impression on winner, lost 2nd towards finish
chased leaders, went 2nd 4th until 9th, weakened 2 out, jumped left last, tailed off
held up in touch behind leaders, outpaced before 2 out, rallied flat, went 2nd towards finish, no impression on winner
held up in touch towards rear, slow 8th, pushed along next, outpaced 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off
Scene Not Herd developed into a useful novice last season but was let down by his jumping on his reappearance at Kempton. ASHINGTON has only run three times over fences but has a win to his name. He’s been in decent form over hurdles recently and might be the pick of the weights in this ahead of the even less-exposed Chepstow runner-up Calico. Golden Taipan and Fairway Freddy look in the handicapper’s grip but there should be more to come from the winning pointer and hurdler Bold Endeavour following a switch to the Henderson yard.
Scene Not Herd (IRE) 15-2 (11-13) Never going towards rear, behind and struggling 8th, tailed off and pulled up after next, at Kempton 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Calico (GER) 2-1fav (11-10) Chased leaders, mistake 3rd, went 2nd before 3 out, jumped left 2 out, driven and no impression on winner last, 2nd of 6, 7l behind Datsalrightgino (11-9) at Chepstow 2m hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Bold Endeavour 9-1 (11-10) Mid-division, bad mistake 11th and drooped to rear, well behind when pulled up before 3 out, at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Oct.
Golden Taipan (IRE) 40-1 (10-2) Mid-division, ridden along 3 out and dropped to rear, soon beaten, 9th of 11, dist behind Frodon (12-0) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp (1) gf in Nov.
Arrivederci (FR) 11-2 (11-2) Jumped big 1st, slow and last from 2nd, slow 3rd, not fluent 5th, pushed along before 4 out, weakened approaching 3 out, last of 3, dist behind Found On (11-5) at Worcester 2m 7f (3) gd in Sep.
Ashington 28-1 (12-0) Chased leaders on inside, pushed along approaching 2 out, ridden between last two, stayed on run-in, not quite enough pace to challenge, 5th of 18, 5 1/2l behind Sweet Will (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Fairway Freddy (IRE) 11-2 (11-9) Towards rear of mid-division, ridden and well behind from 3 out, made no telling impression, 5th of 8, dist behind Don Alvaro (10-5) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (3) gf in Nov.
