mid-division, lost place 6th, well beaten 3 out, plugged on flat
in touch in mid-division, closed 6th, led 3 out, soon went clear, stayed on well
chased leader until before 3 out, soon weakened and pulled up
held up in rear on outside, pushed along to close on outside before 3 out, soon ridden and beaten, modest 4th from 2 out
held up towards rear, not fluent 4th, headway after 7th, no impression on winner 2 out, stayed on same pace
chased leaders, not fluent and pushed along 6th, driven after 7th, lost place before 3 out, soon weakened
led, not fluent 5th, headed 3 out, 3rd and no extra before last
held up towards rear, jumped left 2nd, well beaten before 3 out
chased leaders, weakened 3 out
Dan Skelton has always done well at this venue since starting training and has a sound chance of adding to his course tally with IDEE DE GARDE. HIs gelding returned from a lengthy absence to run a fine race here this month when only denied in a photo and has a strong claims to go one better on just a fourth start over hurdles. Footloose has displayed promise on all three starts and looks on a fair mark for this handicap bow after seeming to relish the step up in trip at Stratford latest. Midnight Moss and Informateur are more exposed than the aforementioned pair but have shown more than enough to be of interest here.
Behind Time (IRE) 25-1 (10-10) Towards rear, not fluent 6th, 14th from halfway, jumped left at times, detached from 10th and pulled up before next, at Roscommon 3m 1f hcp gd in Jun.
Informateur (FR) 25-1 (11-2) Mid-division, outpaced from 3 out, 11th of 15, 24 3/4l behind Mr Scrumpy (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Persian Delight 100-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, weakening when mistake 4 out, soon hung badly left and behind, tailed off, 11th of 12, dist behind Fransham (11-4) at Wetherby 2m hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Idee De Garde (FR) 4-1 (10-12) Held up behind on outside, headway 4 out, challenged after next, led last, soon ridden, kept on until no extra and headed final strides, 2nd of 10, hd behind Vinnie Dev (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f (4) sft in Nov.
Midnight Moss 10-1 (10-9) Mid-division, ridden and headway from 3 out, kept on same pace, 4th of 15, 6 3/4l behind Mr Scrumpy (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Footloose 7-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, soon with leader, led 3 out, headed 2 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 10, 8 1/4l behind Winter Getaway (10-7) at Stratford 2m 6f mdn (4) sft in Oct.
Comber Mill (FR) 25-1 (11-3) Chased leader, slow 3rd, lost 2nd after 3 out, not fluent and no extra next, 9th of 14, 30l behind Mack The Man (11-12) at Warwick 2m hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Near Kettering 14-1 (11-0) Always towards rear, never on terms, 8th of 11, dist behind Kingrullah (11-6) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Sam Chisolm (IRE) 25-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, lost place 4 out, soon tailed off, 6th of 7, 20l behind Destined To Shine (11-6) at Haydock 2m 3f hcp (4) sft in Mar.
