tracked leaders, driven and outpaced in 4th approaching 3 out, soon weakened
tracked leading pair, led 12th, drew clear form 2 out, comfortably
led, mistake and headed 10th, hit next, soon lost place, weakened 4 out, tailed off
held up behind in touch, outpaced 12th, never near leaders
held up in touch, lost place 10th, behind when jumped right from next, weakened 4 out, tailed off
in touch, fell 2nd
held up behind on inside, headway when blundered 12th, went 2nd 3 out, kept on same pace, no chance with winner when hit last
held up behind on outside, headway 10th, ridden and outpaced in 5th before 3 out, soon weakened
pressed leader, led 10 to 12th, chased winner to 3 out, ridden and edged left before next, kept on same pace
Ballyoliver won comfortably at Warwick and hails from the in-form Venetia Williams yard but he's been hit with a massive 15lb rise which may be enough to halt his progress. Nudge And Nurdle hasn't won since 2009 but has dropped to a very lowly mark accordingly and can make his presence felt while I Can Run Can You will be suited by the much quicker ground than he encountered at Ascot last month. CORKAGE would probably have scored over fences at Catterick last month but for falling at the second last and made amends over hurdles at Doncaster last week. He's on a very good mark at present and can follow up, though Accordintolawrence is a progressive young chaser who raced in decent company before getting off the mark at Market Rasen.
Fighting Chance (IRE) 16-1 (11-9) Mid-division, not fluent 1st, headway approaching 6th, ridden to chase winner 4 out until 2 out, no extra flat, 4th of 9, 7l behind All For Free (11-9) at Ludlow 2m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Dec.
Corkage (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, led before 3 out, ridden and clear before last, kept on strongly, won at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd beating Soleil D'avril (11-2) by 8l, 11 ran.
Accordintolawrence (IRE) 2-1fav (10-12) Made all, ridden 3 out, joined last, driven and just held on, won at Market Rasen 2m 2f nov chs 0-115 (4) sft in Dec beating Be Definite (10-12) by nk, 5 ran.
Nudge And Nurdle (IRE) 9-1 (10-11) Led 2nd, clear until hampered by loose horse and headed 8th, lost place 5 out, ridden and outpaced after 3 out, weakened next, tailed off, 7th of 9, well behind Night Alliance (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m 5f cond hcp chs (4yo+) (3) gd in Dec.
I Can Run Can You (IRE) 16-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, slow 8th, weakened next, soon behind, tailed off, 6th of 8, well behind All For Free (11-4) at Ascot 2m 1f nov hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Dec.
Ballyoliver 15-2 (11-2) In touch on outside, headway to lead after 3 out, clear next, stayed on well, well in command when not fluent last, won at Warwick 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Dec beating Not So Sure Dick (11-5) by 5l, 8 ran.
Ring Bo Ree (IRE) 12-1 (10-12) Towards rear, headway when mistake 13th, chased leaders 4 out, still well there in 5th when blundered and unseated rider 2 out, in a race won by Gotoyourplay (11-2) at Newbury 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Dec, 13 ran.
Break The Chain 15-2 (10-13) Tracked leaders, not fluent 4th or 8th, hit 9th, fell next, in a race won by Wood Yer (10-13) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov chs 0-115 (4) gs in Dec, 5 ran.
Junior Jack 13-2 (10-11) Made most, mistake and rider lost iron 10th, recovered before next, headed and outpaced after 3 out, soon no chance with winner, lost 2nd last, weakened flat, 4th of 8, 18l behind Ballyoliver (11-2) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Dec.
Daldini 4-1 (11-2) Close up until quickly lost place and in rear from 4th, mistake 6th, tailed off and pulled up, in a race won by Dystonia's Revenge (11-4) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Dec, 9 ran.
