held up towards rear, headway before 4 out to chase leaders, went 2nd 2 out, led last, kept on well
tracked leaders, led 4 out, ridden and headed last, no extra and lost 2nd place towards finish
held up in touch and keen, dropped to rear after 4th, struggling from 10th, pulled up before 3 out
tracked leaders, not fluent 4 out, weakened before 3 out
led to 4 out, ridden before last, kept on to take 2nd place towards finish
held up towards rear, ridden before 4 out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, headway before 2 out, weakened from last
in rear, blundered 8 out, ridden before 2 out, kept on and no impression
Double Chocolate never looked like being caught when making a winning return from a lay off at Uttoxeter but whether he is able to reproduce that effort here is anybody's guess and he is also 9lb higher. PLAYING THE FIELD makes more appeal given that he looked in need of the run when fourth at Worcester. He won a couple of handicaps in the spring having graduated out of hunter chases. Bus Named Desire was beaten less than a length on his chasing bow at Ludlow and is not badly treated on his hurdles form, though has a poor winning record. Golanova, Etania and Vesuvhill all have something to prove following recent runs and Mr Robinson saves his best for Uttoxeter.
Golanova 6-1 (10-11) Close up, blundered 4th and dropped to rear, slow next, weakened 3 out, 7th of 8, dist behind Here I Am (10-6) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Vesuvhill (FR) 3-1fav (11-7) With leaders, led before 10th, headed 12th and pecked, soon lost place, tailed off and pulled up before last, at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp (4) gs in Oct.
Playing The Field (IRE) 3-1fav (11-5) Held up in rear, headway on inside 4 out, no impression on leaders before 2 out, lost 3rd flat, 4th of 8, 12l behind Muckle Roe (11-11) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp (4) gs in Oct.
Etania 4-1fav (11-12) Held up in mid-division, outpaced after 13th, not fluent next, no impression, 6th of 10, 30 3/4l behind Double Chocolate (10-7) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp (5) gd in Oct.
Double Chocolate 8-1 (10-7) Prominent on outside, led before 3rd, clear 2 out, comfortably, won at Uttoxeter 3m hcp (5) gd in Oct beating Alta Rock (11-4) by 4l, 10 ran.
Bus Named Desire 10-1 (10-6) Mid-division when in view after 1st, closed after 13th, ridden 4 out, switched left flat, ran on, 3rd of 8, 1/2l behind Zama Zama (11-9) at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Mr Robinson (FR) 10-1 (10-9) Held up in rear, headway 7th, not fluent 8th, one pace when left 3rd 3 out, weakened next, 3rd of 9, 26 1/4l behind Fennis Moll (11-11) at Stratford 2m 7f hcp (5) gd in Oct.
Xenophon 5-1fav (11-0) In rear, blundered 8th, never dangerous, pulled up before 5 out, at Towcester 2m 6f hcp (5) gd in Nov.
