chased clear leading pair in 4th, weakened 10th, tailed off
led at strong pace and soon clear, reducded lead 7th, headed next, mistake and lost lost 2nd 10th, soon struggling in rear, tailed off
chased clear leading pair, closed 7th, went 2nd 10th until 3 out, weakened and lost 2nd before 2 out, tired when blundered last, lost poor 4th in closing stages
held up in rear, blundered 8th, went poor 5th after 10th, soon no chance, went poor 4th in closing stages, tailed off
chased clear leader and clear of rest, closed 7th, led next, good jump 2 out, soon clear, stayed on strongly, eased towards finish
held up in last pair, steady headway to 3rd after 10th, went 2nd 3 out, ridden and mistake 2 out, soon struggling and no chance with winner
held up in last trio, closer order at 7th, went 4th after 10th, ridden and went 3rd before 2 out, well held when mistake last
Big Buck's' injury appears to have thrown the staying division wide-open but Paul Nicholls is trying to fill the gap with Prospect Wells, upped in distance after getting outpaced over 2m at Cheltenham last time, though he has a bit to find with some of these on the form book. Reve de Sivola was second to Big Buck's at Newbury on his reappearance but easily brushed aside and the improving Trustan Times has more scope and was impressive under a big weight in a Haydock handicap four weeks ago. SMAD PLACE was a little disappointing when only third to Tidal Bay at Wetherby and still has a bit to prove. But that run still gives him the beating of Cucumber Run on a line through fourth Fair Along and his overall form is the best on offer here. Master Of The Hall hasn't run over hurdles for almost three years but likes the mud and could run a little better than expected.
Cucumber Run (IRE) 33-1 (11-4) Held up in touch in mid-division, mistake 5th, headway 9th, challenged 3 out, no impression on winner flat, stayed on, 2nd of 17, 2 3/4l behind Fair Along (11-12) at Newbury 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (3) sft in Nov.
Kayf Aramis 20-1 (10-11) Led, headed narrowly after 3 out, driven next, every chance between last 2, weakened flat, 8th of 12, 22l behind At Fishers Cross (10-12) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl (2) hvy.
Master Of The Hall (IRE) 12-1 (11-10) Held up in rear, blundered 9th, ridden before 3 out, soon weakened, last of 6, well behind Silviniaco Conti (11-5) at Wetherby 3m 1f chs G2 (1) gs in Nov.
Prospect Wells (FR) 15-2 (11-0) Mid-division in touch, headway 4 out, chased leaders under pressure next, kept on same pace, no impression before last, 10th of 18, 17l behind Olofi (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft in Nov.
Reve De Sivola (FR) 33-1 (11-0) Held up 4th and last, driven after 4 out, ridden before 2 out, stayed on to take 2nd after last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 4, 9l behind Big Buck's (11-8) at Newbury 3m hdl G2 (1) sft.
Smad Place (FR) 10-11fav (11-4) Held up in touch, ridden and weakened before 2 out, 3rd of 6, 25l behind Tidal Bay (11-0) at Wetherby 3m 1f hdl G2 (1) gs in Nov.
Trustan Times (IRE) 10-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, taken wide before bend after 6th, headway 4 out, led 2 out, kept on well from last, driven out, won at Haydock 3m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft in Nov beating Holywell (11-0) by 2 3/4l, 16 ran.
Five Dream (FR) 33-1 (11-0) Disputed lead, driven approaching 2 out, soon no chance with easy winner, weakened to 4th last, last of 4, 27l behind Big Buck's (11-8) at Newbury 3m hdl G2 (1) sft.
