soon led, headed approaching 4 out, every chance next, one paced approaching 2 out, weakened when lost 2nd place towards finish
held up, mistake 5th, blundered 5 out, ridden approaching 3 out, went 3rd approaching last, kept on to take 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner
held up, blundered 5 out, weakened 3 out
led early, chased leader, led approaching 4 out, clear from 2 out
jumped right throughout, always behind, tailed off when pulled up after 2 out
held up in touch, blundered 3rd, held in 4th when blundered and unseated rider last
Carrietau's choke-out style of racing means that he is often vulnerable late on and he is taken on here with bottom-weight LERIDA. The selection is 4lb out of the weights however his jockey's claim helps on that front and a bold bid is expected. There are several front-runners in this small field and that might just set the race up for a hold-up horse like him. He acts on testing ground and looks worth chancing. West End Wonder tackles fences again after a break but his recent form is hardly spectacular, so a bigger danger is likely to be Carrietau. He was out on his feet last time out at Sedgefield but showed plenty of guts to hold on and break his maiden tag over fences so he commands respect in this weak race off a 7lb higher mark. Original Fly may fare better now dropped back in trip and resorting to fences, whilst Frith is a proven mudlark and he has some solid handicap form to his name. A 6lb higher mark will make life tougher for Duke Of Malfi following his Hexham win last time out but he has no ground concerns and is not one to take lightly. An open race that can go the way of Lerida.
Carrietau 9-4fav (11-1) Made all, soon clear, reduced advantage after 3 out, joined last, stayed on gamely to go clear towards finish, won at Sedgefield 2m hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Nov beating Cordier (10-12) by 3 1/2l, 11 ran.
Original Fly (FR) 6-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders and mistakes, weakened from 4 out, tailed off, last of 7, well behind Peters Star (10-7) at Haydock 3m 1f cond hcp hdl 0-1115 (4) hvy in Nov.
Frith (IRE) 11-1 (11-4) Held up, hampered 4th, weakened approaching 9th, 10th of 11, 49l behind Braddock Island (11-6) at Sedgefield 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Nov.
Duke of Malfi 7-1 (11-2) Made virtually all, joined last, ridden and hard pressed flat, stayed on well towards finish, won at Hexham 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Nov beating Yankee Holiday (11-3) by 3/4l, 11 ran.
West End Wonder (IRE) 33-1 (11-5) Led, ridden and headed before last, soon weakened, 4th of 14, 15l behind Freedom Flying (11-1) at Hexham 2m 4f sell hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gs in Nov.
Lerida 12-1 (10-5) In touch, weakened 4 out, 6th of 7, 34l behind Magnetic Pole (10-12) at Leicester 2m 4f stks (5) gf in Nov.
