tracked leaders, led before 5 out, clear before 2 out, kept on well
tracked leader, led 12th, hit 16th, headed before 5 out, one pace in 3rd and no impression
held up towards rear, weakened before 5 out, pulled up before 3 out
in rear, pushed along 8th, soon struggling, pulled up after 15th
behind, unseated rider 2nd
tracked leaders, went 2nd before 3 out, ridden before last, no impression
led, headed 12th, soon outpaced
Basford Ben has been raised 5lb since winning at Carlisle but he'll handle ground and trip and has to go on the short-list. Master Rajeem has to prove his stamina and looks a few pounds too high but Urban Gale goes well here and is probably a better bet than Ringa Bay, who made jumping errors when landing a seller over hurdles at Leicester last time and looks short of confidence. Blackwell Synergy and Baltic Pathfinder are hard to catch right nowadays so this looks a good opportunity for VOLO MIO to go one better that when second at Wetherby on only his second start over fences under Rules. He's won a couple of point-to-points and can only improve.
Master Rajeem (USA) 7-2 (11-7) With leader to after 4th, tracked leading pair, lost place and ridden after 5 out, 4th and beaten when mistake 3 out, 4th of 7, 18l behind The Musical Guy (11-8) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs in Dec.
Ringa Bay 6-4fav (10-6) Chased leader, mistake 4th, outpaced before 3 out and looked well beaten, plugged on from 2 out, led close home, won at Leicester 2m 4f sell (5) sft in Dec beating Stow (11-7) by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
Volo Mio 22-1 (11-0) Held up 4th and last, went modest 3rd before 3 out, no chance with front pair when left 2nd at last, kept on, flattered by proximity to easy winner, 2nd of 4, 4l behind If In Doubt (11-0) at Catterick 3m 1f beg chs (3) gs in Dec.
Blackwell Synergy (FR) 6-1 (11-5) Tracked leader, led 4th, mistake 6th, not fluent and headed next, not fluent and lost place 12th, mistake 14th, blundered and weakened next, mistake 4 out, pulled up after, in a race won by Gallery Exhibition (11-12) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in Dec, 6 ran.
Baltic Pathfinder (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Mistake 1st, quickly pulled up before 2nd, in a race won by Foot The Bill (10-7) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Dec, 6 ran.
Basford Ben 15-8fav (9-11) Disputed lead until 7th, led 10th, mistake 12th, 2 lengths clear when jumped left last, soon ridden, edged right and headed narrowly final 100 yards, battled on gamely to lead again final strides, won at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp chs 0-120 (4) hvy in Dec beating Harangue (11-2) by nk, 4 ran.
Urban Gale (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) Led, headed 6th, led again 9th, headed 13th, tracked leaders, plugging on when blundered 3 out, 3rd of 5, 26l behind Minella Bliss (10-11) at Market Rasen 3m 5f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Dec.
