in touch, badly hampered 3rd, reminders 9th, hit 12th and 16th, soon weakened
tracked leaders, joined leader 11th until 14th, weakening when hit 16th, behind and pulled up before last
tracked leaders, blundered badly 3rd, challenged 16th, ridden to lead 2 out, hard pressed flat, all out
blundered badly 1st, led, hit 2nd, mistake 3 out, soon ridden, headed next, kept on
tracked leaders, hampered 3rd, hit 14th, pressed leaders from next, ridden and every chance 2 out, kept on but no extra flat
held up, some progress 17th, no further impression from 3 out
held up, steady progress from 15th, hit 3 out, tracked leaders next, challenged last, every chance flat, held close home
College Ace looks likely to struggle under an 8lb rise for winning last time at Huntingdon, so he is passed over in favour No Guarantees, with Character Building and Arrayou making up the shortlist. The selection has a tendency to jump right-handed but that shouldn't be as much of a problem on this course, and whilst his trio of seconds will put some punters off, the form of his last race looks strong. Although College Ace has only had two runs over fences and is unexposed, this looks a tricky race under his big weight, and perhaps of more interest could be Character Building who won well last time out at Warwick. He handles any ground, and whilst he has been raised 9lbs for that win, he remains very much unexposed and is one to watch in the betting. Jaunty Times is unexposed as a chaser but may need further, whilst Oliver Sherwood's Arrayou steps up to this trip for the first time which could bring about some improvement. However, No Guarantees has ticks in all the right boxes so he gets the vote.
Arrayou (FR) 20-1 (11-9) Led, headed after 4th, chased leaders from 6th, left 2nd 5 out, 2nd of 4, 29l behind Natal (11-9) at Taunton 2m 3f nov chs (3) gs.
College Ace (IRE) 3-1jt-fav (11-12) Prominent, led 3 out, hit last, strongly challenged and kept on well under pressure, won at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Nov beating Miss Shakira (10-11) by a hd, 8 ran.
Jaunty Times 14-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, hit 4 out, upsides 3 out, hung right after 2 out, stayed on, 2nd of 6, 4l behind Rosses Point (10-8) at Ludlow 3m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs.
No Guarantees 4-1co-fav (10-6) Led, headed approaching last, soon hung right, rallied and finished well, 2nd of 10, nk behind Darby Wall (11-1) at Cheltenham 3m amt hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Nov.
Youlbesolucky (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) Tracked leader until 6th, readily outpaced after 3 out, weakened after next, 4th of 5, well behind Black Jack Ketchum (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hdl Grd 2 (1) sft.
Sungates (IRE) 3-1 (10-10) Held up, took closer order 13th, hampered next, went 2nd 4 out, effort next, kept on same pace, 2nd of 5, 1 1/2l behind Cowboyboots (11-5) at Fontwell 3m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Nov.
Bengo (IRE) 9-2 (11-8) Held up, headway 8th, weakened before 2 out, 5th of 8, 25l behind Hot 'n' Holy (11-12) at Newbury 3m nov hcp chs 0-120 (3) hvy in Nov.
Character Building (IRE) 15-8fav (10-12) Raced keenly, led 4th to 7th, led 10th to 11th, led 12th, idled flat, ridden out, won at Warwick 3m 2f beg chs (4) gs beating Get My Drift (10-12) by 2l, 6 ran.
