not fluent, always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, headway 7th, 6th and in touch when slipped up and fell on bend after 8th
held up towards rear, headway 7th, challenged winner from approaching 3 out, no extra close home
mid-division, headway 5th, weakened after 8th
held up, headway 7th, weakened after 8th, mistake 3 out
chased leaders, went 2nd approaching 3rd, led 7th until before 3 out, hit last, hung left and one pace flat
mid-division, headway after 5th, ridden after 8th, led approaching 3 out, stayed on well
held up towards rear, headway when jumped left 7th, ridden after 8th, weakening when blundered 3 out
mid-division, headway 5th, outpaced when hampered on bend after 8th, stayed on again from 3 out, no impression on leaders
always in rear
soon pushed along in rear, well behind when pulled up before 7th
blundered and unseated rider 2nd
led to 7th, weakening when hampered and unseated rider on bend after 8th
held up in touch, pushed along after 6th, weakening when hampered on bend after 8th, well behind when pulled up before last
took keen hold tracking leaders, lost place after 5th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
with leader until after 2nd, behind from 4th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
Krismas Cracker is the pick over Magico, Zonic Boom and Grenfell. Krismas Cracker lines up in a bid to get the losses back after being sent off as favourite on his return to action at Kempton last month. He was dropped in class that day but was found wanting on his handicap debut, and so is now stepped up to what should be a more suitable trip. With the very capable Jamie Snowdon to guide him round, Nicky Henderson's charge should take the beating here with that run under his belt. Magico was also fancied on his seasonal bow at Huntingdon, but having led for some way, ran out of steam to finish fifth. The runner-up Into The Shadows has since franked the form, and so a good run is expected from the Venetia Williams inmate. Zonic Boom is a past course-and-distance scorer, while Grenfell, yet another out chasing losses, has a decent pilot on board. Spuradich probably has it to do off topweight, and we shall side with Krismas Cracker.
Spuradich (IRE) 7-1 (11-11) Held up towards rear, close order 4 out, ridden and not fluent 3 out, weakening when mistake 2 out, 4th of 10, 27l behind Avitta (11-7) at Hereford 2m 3f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Nov.
Ballybeg Glen (IRE) 13-2 (10-13) Led and soon clear, mistake 6th, headed and weakened next, 4th of 13, 41l behind Flight Leader (10-13) at Chepstow 3m mdn hdl (5) gs in Oct.
Krismas Cracker 2-1fav (10-10) Raced wide, chased leaders, ridden to chase winner 2 out, ridden and no impression between last 2, 2nd of 7, 2 1/2l behind Dishdasha (10-12) at Kempton 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Nov.
Zonic Boom (FR) 11-1 (10-8) Mid-division, ridden 2 out, kept on same pace, no impression, 5th of 17, 14l behind Joan's Girl (11-3) at Catterick 2m 3f cnd hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Nov.
Silver Song 16-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, ridden to chased leaders 3 out, weakened 2 out, 5th of 10, 14l behind Double Dizzy (11-1) at Exeter 2m 6f amt nov hdl (4) gf in Nov.
Magico (NZ) 7-4fav (9-13) Led until headed after 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 13, 21l behind Berengario (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Nov.
Grenfell (IRE) 7-2fav (11-5) Held up and keen, headway after 7th, ridden after 3 out, switched left after last, stayed on, never troubled leaders, 4th of 13, 2l behind Our Joycey (11-0) at Leicester 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs in Nov.
Ryhope Chief (IRE) 6-1 (10-2) Held up rear, ridden and headway 5th, led 3 out, headed soon after, weakened after 2 out, 2nd of 9, 15l behind Brown Fox (10-8) at Hereford 2m 1f amt hcp hdl (5) sft in Nov.
