prominent, made most from 8th, in command bypassing 3 out, eased flat
tended to jump left, behind, tailed off when pulled up 11th
chased leaders, driven along 11th, mistake next, struggling and no chance after, tailed off
towards rear, mistake and rider lost iron briefly 5th, tailed off when pulled up 9th
prominent early, behind from 10th, tailed off when pulled up 4 out
chased leaders, not much room and bumped 4th, blundered, went lame, pulled up 6th
behind, tailed off 9th, ridden into poor 3rd after 13th, tailed off
mid-division, headway to chase leaders 9th, weakening when blundered 11th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
behind, tailed off, pulled up 9th
towards rear when hampered and unseated rider 6th
towards rear, mistake 8th, tailed off 11th, pulled up before 4 out
led to 8th, chased winner after, ridden and blundered 4 out, no real chance after
A trappy novices' handicap chase that might go the way of R'CAM ahead of Cartier Opera and The Snail. Emma Lavelle's charge stays this trip comfortably and scored tidily enough last time having idled on the run in. That was the gelding's first success of any kind but he'd shown promise on more than one occasion and perhaps that first visit to the winners' enclosure can provide the horse the platform from which to add to it here off a 6lbs higher mark. There are plenty of dangers in a competitive race, headed by Cartier Opera. Venetia Williams' nine-year-old remains pretty unexposed over fences having had just eight attempts but his tendency to throw in the odd mistake is a major concern, as was shown when the gelding unseated twice in November when both races were there for the taking. However, he jumped better last time behind a subsequent scorer and a 1lb rise from the assessor has to be regarded as generous ¿ there's little doubt from us that the horse can win off this mark, whether today or at some point in the future. The Snail has been given a two-month break ahead of this hat-trick bid and must have a chance of landing it despite the handicapper's reassessment, although the horse was pulled up on his only try on soft ground so the conditions must be a concern. Ballymorn is unexposed and represents powerful connections but has a lot of improving to do to reverse early November form with Cartier Opera, whilst Classic Chic is yet to convince over fences and looks worth opposing as does Al Qanoon who was beaten a long way off this mark last time. Cresswell Ruby would be a threat to all if getting a soft lead and consenting to put it all in but we're not prepared to take that chance on the mare and whilst Maclean has form off higher marks the gelding hasn't shown much of late, unlike R'Cam who can follow up.
The Snail 9-4fav (11-4) Tracked leaders, led 2nd, clear approaching 2 out, easily, won at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gf in Oct beating Prince Noora (11-11) by 7l, 9 ran.
Majic Moments (IRE) 11-2 (11-12) Took keen hold early, held up in rear, blundered 14th, not on terms when blundered badly 3 out, not recover, tailed off, 5th of 6, 33l behind Its A Classic (11-5) at Plumpton 3m 2f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) hvy in Nov.
Cresswell Ruby (IRE) 13-2 (11-1) Tracked leader until 4th, gradually lost place from next, reminders 7th, driven approaching 8th, blundered badly and down on knees when unseated rider 9th, in a race won by Carrickmines (11-0) at Wincanton 2m 5f cond hcp chs 0-105 (4) hvy, 8 ran.
Super Martina (IRE) 8-1 (10-6) Always in rear, tailed off and struggling 8th, soon pulled up, in a race won by Me Julie (9-12) at Ffos Las 2m 5f Mares Handicap Chase (0-115) (4yo+) (4) sft in Nov, 6 ran.
R'Cam (IRE) 7-2fav (11-7) With leader, not fluent 3 out, soon led, strongly pressed when left clear last, all out flat, won at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp 0-90 (5) gd in Nov beating Pipers Legend (11-7) by 1 1/4l, 14 ran.
Classic Chic 11-4 (11-4) Led until 2nd, chased leaders, led 4 out, hit last, hard ridden and headed towards finish, 2nd of 8, nk behind Isle de Maurice (10-5) at Fontwell 2m 4f sell hdl (3) sft.
Ballymorn (IRE) 7-1 (10-11) Led, blundered 1st, headed 8th, led 9th to 10th, beaten 2 out, jumped left last, 3rd of 10, 16l behind Cartier Opera (10-0) at Towcester 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs in Nov.
Cartier Opera 7-4fav (11-1) Led, headed approaching last, one pace, 2nd of 5, 5l behind Ayemdee (11-9) at Towcester 2m 6f cnd hcp chs (0-95) (5) hvy in Nov.
Maclean 9-2 (10-3) Mid-division, headway to chase winner 4 out, under pressure and fell 2 out, in a race won by Best Of The Lot (11-7) at Southwell 2m 1f 5yo nov hcp (4) gd in May, 11 ran.
Al Qanoon (IRE) 15-8fav (10-5) Held up in rear, jumped right, raced wide until 3rd, headway after 4th, third when went badly right 2 out, soon beaten, 3rd of 7, 22l behind Carrickmines (10-11) at Chepstow 2m nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) hvy in Nov.
Sea Robber (IRE) 16-1 (11-7) Held up in touch, ridden 8th, soon lost touch, tailed off 10th, pulled up 3 out, in a race won by Flashy Conquest (11-8) at Taunton 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-90 (5) sft in Nov, 9 ran.
Overlaw 80-1 (10-7) In touch, outpaced approaching 3 out, 3rd of 7, 29l behind Harry Flashman (10-12) at Hexham 2m 4f nov stks (4) gd in May.
