in rear, headway approaching 3 out, no impression from next
mid-division, headway 5th, led after 3 out, clear approaching last, driven out
held up mid-division, weakened 4 out, tailed off
held up, pushed along 3rd, weakened approaching 9th, tailed off, pulled up before 3 out
held up, ridden 9th, weakened next
chased leaders, mistake 5th, led 4 out, headed after next, weakening when hit 2 out, beaten when hit last
chased leader until 4 out, weakened approaching next, tailed off when pulled up before last
led to 4 out, soon weakened
towards rear, never on terms
chased leaders, hit 4th, ridden and weakened after 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before last
held up, headway 4 out, ridden approaching next, chased winner after 2 out, no impression
mid-division, effort after 4 out, weakened from next
In a tricky handicap, we will side with Potts Of Magic ahead of Model Son and Montevideo. Potts Of Magic had a good summer and warmed up for this with a fair Huntingdon third. Although he now races from a mark that is four pounds above a previous-best winning one, he can go well. There is no doubt that Model Son is well-weighted over hurdles based on his progressive chasing form of last season. If fit and well - and the market will probably be your best guide with regard to this - he can go well. Catch The Perk is also well-weighted based on his chasing form and, coming here fit, a good run is not ruled out. Montevideo looked good when scoring at Uttoxeter in September and then showed improved form to finish second at Stratford. The handicapper has raised him a further five pounds for that but a good run is still not ruled out. Well weighted on form of two seasons aago blinkers will need to revive Paddy The Piper based on more-recent efforts. Finally, stepping up in trip, Irish Wolf and Love That Benny might show some improvement but, for the selection, we will stick with Potts Of Magic.
Haut de Gamme (FR) 6-1 (12-3) Held up in touch, bad mistake 5 out, no extra before 3 out, virtually pulled up from 2 out, 9th of 15, well behind Wonderkid (11-0) at Punchestown 3m crs cty chs gd in Apr.
Irish Wolf (FR) 9-4fav (11-2) Held up towards rear and mistakes, headway 3 out, stayed on from last, 3rd of 12, 4l behind Aleron (11-1) at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Sept.
Love That Benny (USA) 11-4 (11-6) Tracked leaders, led 4 out, headed towards finish, no extra, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Ostfanni (11-3) at Kelso 2m 6f hdl (3) gd in May.
Mocharamor (IRE) 2-1fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, effort 11th, ridden approaching 4 out, weakened from next, 5th of 8, 34l behind Catch The Perk (11-12) at Perth 3m hcp chs 0-110 (4) gf in Aug.
Montevideo 7-2jt-fav (11-10) Held up, headway 7th, lost place next, hit 9th, rallied after 3 out, hung left from 2 out, no impression, 2nd of 12, 2l behind Rabbit (10-8) at Stratford 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in Sept.
Paddy The Piper (IRE) 20-1 (10-8) Tracked leaders, one pace from 2 out, 5th of 12, 9l behind Aleron (11-1) at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Sept.
Model Son (IRE) 14-1 (10-1) Chased leaders, reminders 18th, soon weakened, 17th of 30, well behind Run For Paddy (10-2) at Ayr 4m 1f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gd in Apr.
Catch The Perk (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) Made virtually all, ridden 2 out, held on gamely flat, won at Perth 3m hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Sept beating No Picnic (10-1) by 1/2l, 10 ran.
Lazy But Lively (IRE) 25-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, short-lived effort when not fluent 7th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Sotovik (9-13) at Ayr 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Apr, 11 ran.
Le Royal (FR) 5-1 (10-11) Led, ridden and headed 2 out, weakened flat, 4th of 9, 7l behind Clan Royal (11-7) at Market Rasen 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) hvy in Mar.
Reem Two 10-3 (11-9) Tracked leaders, lost place 7th, kept on from 2 out, not reach leaders, 3rd of 8, 7l behind Huckster (11-10) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in Sept.
Potts of Magic 8-1 (11-4) Held up, ridden and headway approaching 2 out, kept on flat, 3rd of 11, 14l behind Lawyer Des Ormeaux (11-11) at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf.
