led, jumped right throughout, blundered 4th, headed approaching 8th, led again approaching 12th, headed approaching 3 out, no impression
held up, jumped right 6th, pushed along approaching and mistake 12th, weakened next, pulled up before 4 out
tracked leaders, mistake 3rd, jumped right 6th, every chance approaching 3 out, weakened approaching next
held up, weakened 4 out
tracked leaders, jumped right 5th, led approaching 3 out, clear approaching last
with leader, hampered 2nd, led approaching 8th, headed approaching 12th, weakened 5 out
Nonrunner
Silly Wupple can be forgiven his fall last time out and is considered but with Michael Scudamore's charge rising up the weights despite defeats we turn to the very much in-form JUSTWHATEVERULIKE while Fourty Acers is bound to be in warm order for this handicap chase. Proven over this trip after scoring at Kelso two starts ago the pick followed that success with victory over a subsequent winner in softish conditions at the same venue. Given that form line his mark rise looks fair and manageable. Fourty Acers has run well in defeat on his last two efforts and was only beaten by a well handicapped follow-up winner last time. He's a pound lighter in this line-up but is still yet to win under this much weight. Silly Wupple was not to blame for his grounding on his last start and his penultimate run offers plenty of hope of a big run while I'm On Cloud Nine has headed in the right direction in two efforts this season and can improve again. It's more top stuff and it looks competitive but in his current mood we are most taken with Justwhateverulike.
Fourty Acers (IRE) 6-1 (11-6) Jumped right, led, clear 8th to 4 out, hard pressed when left 2 lengths clear 2 out, ridden and headed before last, kept on same pace, 2nd of 11, 4l behind Spring Breeze (10-5) at Aintree 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Oct.
Prestbury Knight 12-1 (10-9) Held up, blundered 3 out when weakening, 7th of 10, 14l behind Ellerslie George (10-10) at Stratford 2m 7f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gf in Sep.
Silly Wupple 14-1 (10-5) Towards rear, hampered and fell 4th (water), in a race won by Razor Royale (11-1) at Cheltenham 3m am hcp chs 0-140 (2) gs, 15 ran.
Top Dressing (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, steady headway from 4 out, went 3rd soon after 3 out, kept on, never a factor, 3rd of 6, 21l behind Nagam (11-8) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in Oct.
I'moncloudnine (IRE) 11-2 (11-11) Held up towards rear, under pressure 12th, soon no impression, 4th of 11, 26l behind Master Somerville (11-5) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs.
Darina's Boy 14-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, lost place after 10th, soon outpaced, left moderate 3rd 4 out, tailed off, 3rd of 7, 40l behind Pistol Basc (10-10) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft.
Justwhateverulike (IRE) 16-1 (10-1) Held up mid-division, headway and in touch 14th, went 2nd between last 2, challenged when mistake last, ridden and stayed on to lead flat, held on towards finish, won at Kelso 2m 6f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs beating Nirvana Swing (10-10) by 1/2l, 14 ran.
