handy, shaken up and lost position after 4 out, soon well behind
mid-division, not fluent 4th, well behind before 3 out, tailed off
in rear, never showed, tailed off
front mid-division, not fluent and dropped away 4 out
prominent, ridden and outpaced by front pair home turn, well held thereafter
rear mid-division, lost touch 3 out
made all, faced challenge from 2 out, shaken up before last where not fluent, ridden and kept on run-in, always doing enough
chased leaders, pushed along and went 2nd home turn, pressed leader 2 out, ridden before last, every chance run-in, always held
mid-division, headway into modest 5th 3 out, no further progress
towards rear, not fluent 1st, pushed along 4 out and no response
chased leaders, not fluent 4 out, pushed along after next, no impression and beaten, plugged on
El Saviour is penalised for his narrow victory at Warwick but was conceding 10lb to the runner-up and had a bit in hand. Goodwin easily won a Fontwell bumper in February and was well supported for his hurdling debut over 2m4f here last month where he led for a long way. JUNKANOO, three times a winner on the Flat, made a very encouraging debut over timber in a much better race than this at Ascot where he was only beaten two lengths by a horse who has subsequently finished second in a Cheltenham handicap. With Gary Moore's string in top form he gets the nod over Walks Like The Man, a winning point-to-pointer and bumper who has changed stables after well beaten in a Listed bumper at Cheltenham.
El Saviour (IRE) 4-1 (11-0) Raced keenly in 3rd, tracked leader at 4th, led, 3 out, pushed clear turning in, reduced lead and ridden between last two, joined and hit last, driven and stayed on gamely run-in, won at Warwick 2m (4) sft in Nov beating Myfanwy's Magic (11-0) by 1/2l, 14 ran.
Berlais Du George 17-2 (11-0) Led narrowly, headed and tracked leader after 5th, mistake next and lost ground, soon weakened, 6th of 9, dist behind Classic Lord (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 2f (4) hvy in Nov.
Crac De Megaudais (FR) 250-1 (11-0) Behind, towards rear and wide turning in, never involved, 9th of 14, 23 3/4l behind El Saviour (11-0) at Warwick 2m (4) sft in Nov.
Crystal Mer 80-1 (11-4) In rear, ridden before 3 out, slow jump 3 out and soon tailed off, 6th of 16, dist behind Imperial Saint (11-4) at Ludlow 2m mdn (4) gs in Nov.
Deerstalker (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, ridden 2 out, no extra, 4th of 8, dist behind Destroytheevidence (11-7) at Kempton 2m 5f (4) gd in Oct.
Eloso (IRE) 200-1 (11-4) Not always fluent in rear, well beaten after 3 out, 8th of 9, dist behind Southoftheborder (11-4) at Sandown 2m mdn (4) sft in Nov.
Goodwin (IRE) 15-8jfav (11-0) Led, not fluent 3 out, ridden and headed next, faded flat, 2nd of 11, 9 1/2l behind Emailandy (11-0) at Plumpton 2m 5f (4) gs in Nov.
Je Suis Sacre (FR) Saint Des Saints gelding out of Altesse Sacree.
Junkanoo 40-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, headway to press leader before 2 out, soon ridden, wandered around approaching last where every chance, kept on one pace run-in, 2nd of 4, 2l behind Doddiethegreat (11-7) at Ascot 2m (2) gd in Nov.
Kotari (FR) 18-5 (11-0) Towards rear, headway after 5th, went 2nd after next, not fluent 3 out and soon outpaced by leader, weakened 2 out, 5th of 9, dist behind Classic Lord (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 2f (4) hvy in Nov.
Stick With Me Sam (FR) Black Sam Bellamy gelding out of Wendy Du Berlais.
Walks Like The Man (IRE) 12-1 (11-2) Chased leaders out wide, pushed along and weakened over 2f out, 7th of 12, 18l behind Brechin Castle (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m lst (1) sft in Nov.
Guinessed (IRE) 150-1 (10-7) Towards rear when hit 3 out and fell, at Lingfield 2m (4) gs in Nov.
