in touch, headway after 5th, driven to lead 3 out, ridden out
in touch, chased leaders 3 out, close up 2nd 2 out, no impression flat
tracked leaders, pecked 2nd, ridden and weakened 3 out
led and keen, headed after 3rd, weakened 3 out
held up, ridden after 4 out, plugged on, never on terms
keen in rear, short-lived effort after 4 out
prominent, led 4th, headed 3 out, ridden 2 out, weakened flat
held up, effort after 4 out, weakened next
started slowly, keen in mid-division, lost place and mistake 5th, pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, effort and headway 5th, ridden and weakened 2 out
keen, led after 3rd, headed 4th, hung left and lost place on bend after 5th, pulled up before 3 out
DONTPAYTHEFERRYMAN is taken to get the better of Elbistan and Waarid. It's a little disconcerting that David Evans has elected to drop him in class so swiftly as he won well enough on his hurdling bow when trained by Evan Williams and had no realistic task next time. However, this track should suit on only his third start over obstacles and the jockey booking is a positive one. Elbistan is tried in the combination of a tongue strap and blinkers in an attempt to persuade him to put his best foot forwards. He has leading claims for the track's leading trainer if the appliances do work but he was disappointing last time and is held by Waarid on that form. Waarid's connections also reach for the headgear and cheekpieces may bring about some improvement from this modest sort and he does have form claims. Remarkably, none of the remainder make any sort of appeal so we'll take a chance with Dontpaytheferryman.
Dontpaytheferryman (USA) 22-1 (11-2) Raced keenly, held up towards rear, headway approaching 5th, soon weakened, 10th of 12, 44l behind Simarian (11-1) at Cheltenham 2m 3yo nov hdl (3) gd in Oct.
Elbistan (IRE) 3-1 (10-12) In touch, took closer order after 5th, ridden after 3 out, weakened before next, 4th of 13, 12l behind No To Trident (10-12) at Taunton 2m 1f 3yo nov sll hdl (5) gs in Nov.
Haydens Mark 5-1 (10-12) Always behind, tailed off when pulled up before last pulled up at the last in race won by Simarian (10-12) at Hexham 2m 3yo mdn hdl (4) gf in Jun, 9 ran.
Nathan Dee 100-1 (10-9) Badly hampered and unseated rider in race won by No To Trident (10-12) at Taunton 2m 1f 3yo nov sll hdl (5) gs in Nov, 13 ran.
Waarid 10-1 (10-12) Keen in mid-division, headway 6th, not fluent 3 out, effort before next, kept on same pace, 3rd of 13, 7l behind No To Trident (10-12) at Taunton 2m 1f 3yo nov sll hdl (5) gs in Nov.
Whatalotofbuts 40-1 (10-12) Raced keenly, led until after 1st, chased leader, led again before 4th, headed approaching 3 out, weakened and eased after 3 out, 9th of 12, 41l behind Dontpaytheferryman (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) gs in Oct.
Ericarrow (IRE) 20-1 (10-0) Held up, never dangerous, 5th of 9, well behind Bathwick Man (11-0) at Plumpton 2m nov clm hdl (5) gs in Nov.
Farsighted 150-1 (10-0) Mid-division, ridden and weakened 6th., 10th of 13, well behind Starluck (11-5) at Fakenham 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Little Cee (IRE) 14-1 (8-12) Always in the rear, 9th of 13, 8l behind Spent (9-9) at Brighton 7f mdn hcp (6) gd in Aug (Flat).
Malt Empress (IRE) 40-1 (10-1) Held up, headway 5th, chased leading pair 3 out, no impression, 3rd of 9, 28l behind Bathwick Man (11-0) at Plumpton 2m nov clm hdl (5) gs in Nov.
Veronicas Way 66-1 (10-1) Held up mid-division, weakened from 5th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Purely By Chance (10-8) at Leicester 2m 3yo nov hdl (3) hvy, 13 ran.
Ricci de Mare 25-1 (10-1) Held up, ridden after 5th, soon weakened, 10th of 13, well behind Purely By Chance (10-8) at Leicester 2m 3yo nov hdl (3) hvy.
