held up, headway 4 out, ridden to chase winner and hung left from approaching 2 out, no impression
led to 8th, weakened approaching 4 out, mistake 2 out
chased leader, led 8th, ridden and ran on well flat
held up, reminder after 5th, headway to chase winner from 4 out until approaching 2 out, weakened approaching last
took keen hold in touch, weakening when jumped left 3 out
Wages can make fitness count over his four rivals, the best of whom may be West Hill ahead of Lascar de Ferbet. Alison Thorpe has had a great season, and should register another winner here with recent intake Wages who has the form to defy topweight. The six-year-old was successful over fences in January when trained by Evan Williams who also saddled him to land a selling hurdle at Market Rasen in June. He subsequently joined current connections and made an immediate impact on a return to the Lincolnshire track in August, but was put back over the bigger obstacles at Hereford last week, finishing a close third to Terrible Tenant with the third horse 17 lengths away. That form looks good enough in the context of this race, and he should be up to the task. West Hill has been off since May, but is only a five-year-old and his time will come, while Lascar de Ferbet is another that returns to the fray but hails from a stable that is in a bit of form at present. Wages has leading claims and is the pick.
Wages 11-4jt-fav (11-5) Mid-division, headway approaching 7th, every chance when hit 2 out, soon ridden, no extra flat, 2nd of 9, 3l behind Terrible Tenant (10-4) at Hereford 2m hcp chs 0-110 (4) gf in Sept.
Lonesome Man (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) Took keen hold, led, mistake 3rd, clear approaching 5th until not fluent 6th, weakened 2 out, 7th of 11, 25l behind Seymour Weld (10-9) at Worcester 2m 4f sll hdl (5) gf in Aug.
Lascar de Ferbet (FR) 8-1 (11-4) Led until headed approaching 3 out, ridden and weakened after next, 4th of 6, 20l behind Word Gets Around (11-12) at Musselburgh 2m 1f nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gf in Jan.
West Hill (IRE) 8-1 (10-7) Mid-division, pushed along 7th, ridden and headway after 3 out, stayed on flat, 3rd of 14, 2l behind Master Papa (11-6) at Bangor 2m 1f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in May.
Fixateur 6-1 (11-5) Prominent, led after 3 out, ridden and headed last, one pace, 2nd of 15, 3l behind Theatre Tinka (10-13) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) sft in Mar.
