chased leaders, with leader 8th, mistake 12th, soon reminders, pushed along before 4 out, weakened soon after
led, mistake 11th, headed 5 out, soon weakened
prominent, weakened before 11th
chased leaders on inner, weakened before 3 out
in rear, headway 5 out, kept on to chase leading pair from 2 out, no impression
towards rear, struggling after 10th
held up towards rear, ridden and headway after 5 out, went 3rd before 4 out, one pace
held up mid-division, chased leaders before 10th, led 5 out, pressed after last, caught close home
held up towards rear, soon mid-division, pushed along after 5 out, never a factor
held up in touch, headway to chase leaders before 11th, went 2nd before 4 out, not fluent last, hard ridden run-in, kept on to lead close home
Everaard is 2lb out of the handicap and a recent course win, when More Equity was behind, came over hurdles. His record over fences leaves a little to be desired while Sue Bradburne's pair, Or De Grugy and Rossini's Dancer, also look worth opposing. Chris Grant also saddles two but Lutin Du Moulin hasn't raced since June and Kosta Brava got no further than the first over 2m4f here on New Year's Day in a race in which Fred Bojangles was eventually pulled up. Seize won at Doncaster early last month but was well beaten off his new mark on a return visit to Town Moor so, with Safari Adventures hard to predict, this is probably best left to KEY CUTTER. Cheekpieces produced a much better effort at Leicester last time and he should take all the beating here if the headgear works a second time.
Key Cutter (FR) 11-8fav (11-12) Led until approaching 9th, chased leaders after, effort 3 out, every chance next, led last, ran on well, won at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-120 (4) fm in Dec beating Forty Five (11-8) by 11l, 5 ran.
Safari Adventures (IRE) 22-1 (11-4) With leader, lost place before 6 out, 10th of 12, 27l behind Quicuyo (11-10) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp chs 0-140 (3) gs in Dec.
Or de Grugy (FR) 9-1 (11-5) Prominent until ridden and weakened 4 out, 5th of 6, well behind Ashfield's Dream (11-9) at Perth 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Aug.
Fred Bojangals (IRE) 20-1 (10-1) Towards rear, struggling 11th, weakened 5 out, soon pulled up, in a race won by Fiendish Flame (11-12) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp chs 0-140 (3) gd, 11 ran.
Kosta Brava (FR) 18-1 (10-4) Held up when mistake and unseated rider 1st, in a race won by Fiendish Flame (11-12) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp chs 0-140 (3) gd, 11 ran.
Lutin du Moulin (FR) 3-1fav (11-0) Held up towards rear, weakened from 5 out, 6th of 7, 27l behind I Need A Hero (11-5) at Wetherby 2m 6f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Jun.
Seize 11-1 (11-4) Held up in touch on inside, outpaced when blundered 13th, never on terms, 6th of 9, well behind Air Force One (11-12) at Doncaster 3m 2f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs in Dec.
More Equity 14-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, joined leader 10th, lost place and ridden before 3 out, kept on same pace, no impression with leading pair from next, 3rd of 8, 11l behind Everaard (10-5) at Musselburgh 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gd.
Rossini's Dancer 7-1 (11-9) Mid-division, mistake and unseated rider 2nd, in a race won by Apache Blue (10-9) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Nov, 11 ran.
Everaard (USA) 7-2 (10-5) Tracked leaders, hit 10th, challenged 3 out, led before next, quickened clear approaching last, stayed on well, won at Musselburgh 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gd beating Vallani (10-1) by 9l, 8 ran.
