held up in touch, went 2nd from 5th, led after 3 out, ridden next, kept on well
tracked leader, ridden and one pace from 3 out
held up, headway to chase leaders approaching 3 out, ridden approaching next, chased winner approaching last, kept on
tracked leaders until weakened approaching 9th, pulled up after 4 out
in rear, weakened from 8th
led and jumped right, mistake and headed after 3 out, weakening when blundered 2 out
Green Tango put up a useful performance when beating Don't Be Shy at Hereford last time but Henry Daly's gelding faces an even stiffer task today and, in receipt of weight, the vote goes to Pole Star ahead of Roman Ark. The last mentioned was progressive over hurdles on a soft surface last season and looks to be going the right way over the larger obstacles judged by his recent success at Ayr; however, Malcolm Jefferson's gelding would probably prefer a more testing surface. Jonjo O'Neill's Feel The Pride was well placed to win three races in the spring and has found life tougher since then, while Reel Missile does not look to be good enough. Howard Johnson's Astronomic was useful over hurdles and it is probably too soon to be writing him off over fences so he should not be discounted but preference is for Pole Star. Useful over hurdles, James Fanshawe's gelding got no further than the fourth on his chasing debut at Leicester earlier this month. Today's ground is ideal for the eight-year-old and, if putting in a good round of jumping, he may be able to make the most of the weight that he receives.
Green Tango 7-2 (11-3) Mid-division, joined leaders 10th, led approaching 2 out, ridden out, won at Hereford 2m 3f beg chs (4) sft beating Don't Be Shy (10-7) by 1 1/2l, 14 ran.
Roman Ark 8-11fav (11-3) Held up, headway 6th, led approaching 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, ridden out, won at Ayr 2m 4f beg chs (4) sft beating Junior Des Ormeaux (11-3) by 3 1/2l, 10 ran.
Feel The Pride (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) Mid-division, headway 4th, ridden 3 out, weakened approaching last, 5th of 8, 24l behind Tanikos (11-3) at Warwick 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs.
Astronomic 13-8fav (11-4) Tracked leader, weakening when blundered 2 out pulled up in race won by Shares (10-8) at Ayr 2m beg chs (D) sft in Dec, 8 ran.
Pole Star 11-10fav (11-2) Keen, chased leaders fell at the 4th in race won by Calatagan (10-11) at Leicester 2m beg chs (4) gd, 10 ran.
Reel Missile 25-1 (10-11) Keen hold, led 2nd, blundered and headed 9th, soon ridden and one pace, 2nd of 6, 8l behind Kasthari (11-2) at Doncaster 2m 3f nov chs (C) gd in Dec.
