close up until 6th, mistake 8th, soon behind, pulled up before 3 out
chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, kept on same pace
made all, stayed on strongly, ridden out
close up, ridden approaching 3 out, one pace from next
mid-division, headway after 8th, ridden after 3 out, stayed on
chased winner until after 2 out, kept on same pace
held up towards rear, headway 9th, soon ridden, weakened quickly and pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, stayed on from next, went 2nd approaching last
mid-division, headway after 8th, weakened after next, pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, headway 6th, effort after 3 out, weakened last
chased leaders, slow jump 2nd and reminders, never fluent after, soon behind
held up towards rear, headway 9th, effort at 3 out, kept on same pace
mid-division, headway 5th, weakened 9th
towards rear, hit 6th, ridden and headway 9th, weakened after 3 out
chased leaders until 9th, soon beaten
always towards rear
towards rear, ridden and headway when hit 3 out, soon weakened
Nonrunner
A very open finale in which many appear to have solid claims, however the tentative vote goes to Team Leader ahead of Bring Me Sunshine, Theatre and Mikado. The last-named was a top-quality performer on the flat but is yet to transfer that obvious ability to hurdles and so can be passed over, as he looks hard to win with, whilst Bring Me Sunshine showed a gutsy attitude to win on his reappearance at Towcester in November, and assuming that the ground doesn't become a bog, he would look to hold every chance. Also of interest could be Jamie Poulton's Theatre, although he looks like he will need a longer trip than this as he was a thorough stayer on the flat. Perhaps most interesting however is the selection, Team Leader, who won on his hurdling debut at Stratford and doesn't look too harshly treated for this, his handicap debut. The Twiston-Davies stable broke a lengthy losing streak on Wednesday, and assuming that he isn't too keen early on, Team Leader is given the tentative vote to continue his winning streak.
Bring Me Sunshine (IRE) 10-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, hit 4th, led approaching 3 out, ridden and hit last, stayed on gamely, won at Towcester 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Nov beating Mr Boo (10-6) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
Gidam Gidam (IRE) 33-1 (10-11) Mid-division, headway 4th, ridden after 6th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up at the last in race won by Mith Hill (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Nov, 16 ran.
Mikado 5-1 (11-5) Towards rear, headway 4 out, ridden 3 out, kept on, 4th of 11, 9l behind Rowley Hill (11-12) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft.
Macmar (FR) 20-1 (11-5) Held up in mid-division, headway to chase leaders 3 out, led and mistake 2 out, headed approaching last, weakened flat, 2nd of 12, 5l behind Inishturk (10-6) at Kempton 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Nov.
Burntoakboy 8-1 (11-5) Held up, headway 3 out, every chance when not fluent last, kept on flat, 2nd of 11, nk behind Sir Bathwick (10-1) at Southwell 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs.
Royal Katidoki (FR) 20-1 (11-2) Tracked leader, ridden and hit 7th, weakened approaching 3 out, 7th of 16, 22l behind Ellway Prospect (11-0) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Nov.
Murphy's Quest 25-1 (11-7) Mid-division, headway to track leaders 4 out, mistake and weakened next, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Inishturk (10-6) at Kempton 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Nov, 12 ran.
Nobel (FR) 12-1 (9-13) Mid-division, headway 3 out, ridden and kept on from next, never troubled leaders, 3rd of 16, 13l behind Accordello (10-0) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gd in Nov.
Beyond Control (IRE) 25-1 (11-5) Chased leader, blundered and lost place 7th, weakened 8th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Abragante (11-3) at Exeter 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft, 13 ran.
Backbord (GER) 5-6fav (10-12) Held up, headway after 8th, challenged 3 out, led last, ran on, won at Ludlow 2m 5f nov hdl (4) gd in Nov beating Theatre Diva (10-12) by 1 1/2l, 10 ran.
Team Leader (IRE) 9-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, led 3 out, soon ridden, drifted right after 2 out and last, driven out, won at Stratford 2m 6f mdn hdl (4) sft in Oct beating Once A Brownie (11-0) by a nk, 12 ran.
Linnet (GER) 12-1 (10-6) Tracked leader to 3rd, ridden and weakened 2 out, 6th of 7, 15l behind Tarlac (11-3) at Ascot 2m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) sft in Nov.
Mylo 50-1 (11-4) Led to 8th, soon ridden, weakened 3 out, 11th of 13, well behind Abragante (11-3) at Exeter 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft.
Huckster (ZIM) 10-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, mistake 8th, ridden approaching 2 out, ran on to lead towards finish, won at Bangor 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in Sept beating Musally (11-4) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
Pardon What 50-1 (11-5) Towards rear, ridden approaching 8th, soon weakened, 10th of 13, well behind Abragante (11-3) at Exeter 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft.
Greenfield (IRE) 40-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, ridden when hampered after 8th, soon weakened, tailed off, 9th of 12, well behind Inishturk (10-6) at Kempton 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Nov.
Tragumna (IRE) 16-1 (10-7) Held up, progress 4 out, 5th after 3 out, challenging when left in lead briefly 2 out, no extra before last, 6th of 20, 12l behind Shifting Alliance (10-7) at Fairyhouse 3m hcp hdl 0-123 hvy.
Theatre (USA) 6-1 (10-1) Towards rear, stayed on under pressure from 2 out, nearest finish, 3rd of 21, 6l behind Karanja (11-1) at Newbury 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gs in Nov.
