chased leaders, saddle soon slipped, pulled up after 1st
prominent, led 14th, left clear 4 out, driven out from last, finished tired
led to 14th, soon driven along, left poor 2nd 4 out, stayed on from next
in touch, challenging when fell 4 out
held up, outpaced when blundered and unseated rider 11th
always behind, weakened from 12th, pulled up after 5 out
chased leaders, weakened from 12th, left remote 3rd 4 out, never dangerous
towards rear, weakened from 12th, pulled after 5 out
Lucky Nellerie is the pick over Getinbybutonlyjust, Trading Trouble and Eriskay. Lucky Nellerie made all when opening his account at Sedgefield last month, the application of ear-plugs helping to do the trick, and as long as Ferdy Murphy uses them on the eight-year-old again, he should prove hard to beat with conditions in his favour. Eriskay will do well to get past him, having to shoulder topweight, and a bigger danger may well turn out to be Getinbybutonlyjust who showed plenty of stamina when ploughing home in the heavy going at Hexham last time. A past course-and-distance winner, he also makes more appeal than Trading Trouble, but the fact that he has to give weight to the selection sways us back towards Lucky Nellerie.
Eriskay (IRE) 9-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, ridden, outpaced 5 out, weakened after 3 out, 5th of 6, 12l behind Terlan (11-4) at Newcastle 2m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Dec.
Getinbybutonlyjust 3-1fav (11-5) In touch, went 2nd 12th, led 2 out, soon ridden, tired last, held on, won at Hexham 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) hvy in Dec beating Nectar De Guye (10-10) by 4l, 7 ran.
Lucky Nellerie (FR) 13-2 (10-9) Made all, drew clear from 13th, unchallenged, won at Sedgefield 3m 3f mdn chs (4) sft in Dec beating The Poser (11-0) by 30l, 12 ran.
Trading Trouble 10-1 (10-13) In rear, pecked 2nd, weakened 9th, 4th of 10, 13l behind Fearless Foursome (10-5) at Ayr 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) hvy in Dec.
Something Silver 12-1 (11-2) Held up, keen, weakened 5 out and pulled up 3 out in race won by Fearless Foursome (11-3) at Ayr 2m hcp chs 0-110 (4) hvy in Dec, 8 ran.
Hiddenfortune (IRE) 25-1 (10-10) Always towards rear, 7th of 15, 34l behind Roadworthy (10-9) at Ayr 2m cnd hcp hdl (5) hvy in Dec.
Barrons Pike 20-1 (10-9) Tracked leader, gradually weakened from halfway, 8th of 13, 42l behind Quibble (11-5) at Musselburgh 3m nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Dec.
Native Coll 100-1 (10-7) Mid-division, ridden and weakened 7th, 7th of 11, well behind Skippers Brig (10-12) at Ayr 2m 4f nov hdl (4) hvy in Dec.
