mid-division, lost place after 7th, no danger after
with leaders, lost place after 3 out, weakened next
raced keenly, tracked leaders, driven and outpaced after 3 out, disputing 3rd and weakening when mistake next
in touch, lost place 8th, no danger after
behind, short lived effort approaching 3 out, soon weakened
in touch, lost place 3 out, weakened next
held up mid-division, headway on outside, when not fluent 7th, led next, ridden and headed flat, no extra
mistake 1st, towards rear, driven and outpaced 3 out, kept on under pressure from next, never trouble leaders
mid-division, mistake 3rd, driven and headway approaching 2 out, ridden and stayed on to lead briefly flat, no extra towards finish
mid-division, headway 3 out, effort on inside next, soon ridden, stayed on under pressure to lead flat
Nonrunner
Red Harbour is bound to be popular with backers being trained by Paul Nicholls and having run in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham last season but he has yet to reproduce a similar level of form over hurdles and preference is for LUSH LIFE, who gets the vote ahead of Billie Magern. The six-year-old won his fourth race on the bounce when successful at Perth in September but he looked beaten when falling at Cheltenham on his next start and was well held there on soft ground last time so looks best watched on similarly testing ground today. Emma Lavelle's Zarrafakt won well enough at Newbury when last seen in November but this is tougher under a penalty for that success. Chain Of Command lost no caste in defeat behind Ghizao on his second start in a bumper prior to making a winning debut over hurdles when successful at Hereford last month but this is likely to be harder and of more interest may be Volador. The son of Old Vic has yet to finish out of the frame in five starts either in bumpers or over hurdles but Philip Hobbs is struggling to find winners at present and a better bet looks to be Lush Life. Nicky Henderson's gelding created a favourable impression when making a winning debut in a Kempton bumper in April and, having been narrowly beaten on his hurdling debut here in November, looks worth backing receiving weight from his main rivals.
Billie Magern 33-1 (11-7) In touch, hit 5th, ridden after 3 out, weakened soon after 2 out, 7th of 8, 31l behind Tell Massini (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m nov hdl G2 (1) sft in Dec.
Zarrafakt (IRE) 12-1 (11-8) Led, over 1 length clear last, headed final 100 yards, driven, rallied gamely to regain lead close home, won at Newbury 2m 5f nov hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in Nov beating Prince Du Beury (10-10) by nk, 14 ran.
Chain Of Command (IRE) 9-1 (10-12) In touch, steady headway to track leaders 2 out, ridden to lead last, kept on, won at Hereford 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Dec beating Bold Addition (10-9) by 2l, 15 ran.
Barak O'barma 100-1 (11-6) Held up, in touch, challenged 3 out, ridden and one pace between last 2, 3rd of 11, 2 1/2l behind Stoney's Treasure (11-12) at Plumpton 2m 5f NH nov hdl (4-7yo) (3) sft.
Devoran Quay (IRE) 66-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, lost place halfway, last of 15, well behind Volador (11-3) at Chepstow 2m NH flat (6) gd in Mar.
Great Ocean Road (IRE) 50-1 (11-0) Always behind, 10th of 18, well behind Sandynow (11-0) at Warwick 2m 5f mdn hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Island Jim (IRE) 100-1 (11-0) Mid-division, jumped slowly 2nd and 3rd, soon lost place, 6th of 13, 37l behind Bellvano (11-0) at Newbury 2m NH mdn hdl (3) gs in Nov.
King of Leon (FR) 40-1 (11-0) Tracked leader, travelling well 2 out, soon driven to challenge and one pace, 4th of 7, 9l behind Master Of The Hall (11-0) at Sandown 2m nov hdl (3) hvy in Dec.
Lush Life (IRE) 6-4fav (11-7) Tracked leader, pushed along over 3f out, every chance over 1f out, edged left under pressure inside final furlong, no extra, 2nd of 12, 1/2l behind Dunraven Storm (11-0) at Ascot 2m NH flat (4) gd in Nov.
Qroktou (FR) 5-2 (10-12) Mid-division, not fluent, headway approaching 5th, lost place before next, struggling 7th, behind when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Moleskin (10-12) at Exeter 2m 5f nov hdl (3) hvy in Nov, 11 ran.
Red Harbour (IRE) 7-4fav (10-12) Tracked winner, ridden 2 out, driven approaching last, weakened and no extra flat, 6th of 11, 5l behind Ashfield's Dream (10-12) at Ascot 2m 3f nov hdl (3) gd in Nov.
Swansbrook (IRE) 10-3 (10-12) Held up, ridden approaching 2 out, soon outpaced, 6th of 14, 18l behind Larks Lad (10-12) at Taunton 2m 3f nov hdl (3) gs in Nov.
Volador (IRE) 9-2 (11-0) Held up towards rear, steady headway approaching 3 out, 3rd 2 out, kept on into 2nd after last, never any chance with easy winner, 2nd of 13, 9l behind Be There In Five (11-0) at Chepstow 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) hvy in Dec.
