towards rear, effort after 19th, weakened after 3 out
always towards rear, tailed off and pulled up after 3 out
chased leaders, hit 6th, led 9th until 15th, pressed winner, ridden after 3 out, stayed on same pace
led until 9th, chased leaders, hit 17th and lost place, soon ridden, hit 3 out, kept on same pace
chased leaders, ridden to challenge for 2nd from 2 out, stayed on same pace
chased leaders, went prominent 15th, ridden after 3 out, stayed on same pace
mid-division, headway 17th, effort 3 out, weakened after next
chased leaders, ridden after 19th, weakened approaching 2 out
chased leaders, led 15th, stayed on strongly from 2 out, ridden out
mid-division until 12th, behind from next, pulled up before 17th
always towards rear, lost touch 13th, pulled up after 19th
mid-division until 15th, soon behind
In the finale, Preacher Boy is selected ahead of Latimer's Place and Avitta. Given that the top three in the weights plus Avitta all need career-best efforts if they are to score, then we will look elsewhere for the selection. That said, Latimer's Place has to do just that also but a nine-pounds rise for his Newbury romp may not be enough to stop him from running well. Kerstino Two looks held on that form. That said again, the lightly-raced Preacher Boy ran a blinder to finish third in the Hennessy Gold Cup and, racing from the same mark, he is a danger to all today. The Paul Nicholls-trained Tuthern has been a little disappointing since coming over from France but a good run is still not ruled out, while Mont de Rire has yet to build on his Leicester win of a year ago. Finally, Grattan Lodge needs to turn the clock back to 2004 if he is to get involved, and Bubble Boy was beaten off today's mark at Wincanton last time. All of which returns us to the selection, which is Preacher Boy.
Almost Broke 9-4fav (11-5) Held up, hung left after 3 out, stayed on from 2 out, no danger, 5th of 12, 23l behind Cousin Nicky (11-7) at Newbury 2m 5f nov hcp hdl 0-120 (3) hvy in Nov.
Harris Bay 4-1fav (10-8) Held up and always behind, lost touch 11th, tailed off and pulled up at the 15th in race won by Billyvoddan (10-12) at Ascot 3m lst hcp chs (1) gs in Dec, 18 ran.
Nadover (FR) 16-1 (11-6) Prominent, led 2nd, jumped right 6th and 8th, pressed from 5 out, stayed on, won at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Dec beating Nozic (11-6) by 1/2l, 14 ran.
Latimer's Place 8-1 (11-8) Led 5th until next, led 9th until 12th, led after 3 out, drew clear from next, comfortably, won at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Dec beating Kerstino Two (11-7) by 16l, 7 ran.
Iron Man (FR) 7-2 (11-3) Held up in touch, ridden when not fluent 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 5th of 10, 12l behind Kenzo Iii (9-7) at Hereford 2m 3f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Dec.
Preacher Boy 12-1 (10-6) Prominent, went 2nd 6th, led approaching 17th, headed 3 out, no impression and lost 2nd 2 out, plugged on one pace, 3rd of 16, 13l behind State of Play (11-4) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) sft in Nov.
Turthen (FR) 7-2 (11-1) Held up in touch, blundered 4 out, weakened next, last of 5, 35l behind Don't Be Shy (10-7) at Haydock 2m 4f nov chs (2) hvy.
Mort De Rire (FR) 10-1 (11-4) Chased winner until 6th, weakened 8th, last of 4, well behind Sporazene (11-7) at Exeter 2m 1f Grad Ch (2) sft in Dec.
Kerstino Two 3-1fav (11-7) Led, hit 4th, headed next, led 6th until 9th, led to 12th, ridden and headed after 3 out, no chance with winner from next, 2nd of 7, 16l behind Latimer's Place (11-8) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Dec.
Avitta (IRE) 14-1 (11-3) Chased leader, ridden, led approaching 4 out, hard ridden 2 out, ran on gamely from last, won at Exeter 2m 3f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Dec beating Bishop's Bridge (11-8) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
Grattan Lodge (IRE) 14-1 (11-8) In touch, hit 5 out, 5th and beaten when blundered next, soon weakened, 5th of 10, 48l behind Silver Knight (11-3) at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Dec.
Bubble Boy (IRE) 7-1 (10-10) Led to mistake and headed 9th, ridden and lost touch 17th, 4th of 11, 21l behind Nykel (10-13) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Dec.
