midfield, dropped towards rear after 6th, soon ridden, pulled up approaching 7th
held up, outpaced and blundered 4 out, soon weakened, bad mistake 2 out and pulled up
close up, niggled along and headway 9th, headed when under strong pressure 3 out, bad mistake 2 out and pulled up
tracked leader, pushed along and headed before 4 out, slow jump 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, mistake 6th, pushed along and brief headway 3 out, no impression before 2 out, weakened before last
prominent, shaken up and headed after 9th, not fluent 4 out, niggled along before 3 out, went 3rd before 2 out, kept on after last without troubling front pair
just worse than midfield, pushed along before 4 out, led approaching 3 out, kicked clear before 2 out, ran on after last, easily
led, jumped left on occasions, headed 3 out, kept on at same pace from 2 out, not match for winner
held up towards rear, not fluent 3rd, mistake and headed 6th, niggled along before 4 out, weakened from 3 out, kept on at one pace
in rear, not fluent 8th, soon ridden for effort, pulled up before 4 out
NonRunner
A couple of these stand out on their latest efforts though both race over different trips today. Khairagash finished runner-up over 2m at Leicester last week but earlier attempts at further fail to inspire confidence and LEX TALIONIS gets the nod. The latter found only one too good over 3m at Ffos Las but has won over today’s distance over hurdles and can finally open his account over the larger obstacles. The remainder make little appeal on recent form though Pinch Of Ginger won off a similar mark early in the year and is preferred to Legend Of Zorro.
Pinch Of Ginger (IRE) 12-1 (11-4) Prominent, mistake 4th, hit 8th and relegated to midfield, driven before 4 out, not fluent 3 out, weakened before 2 out, 9th of 10, 19 1/4l behind Ard Chros (11-7) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp (4) hvy in Nov.
Norwegian Woods (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Midfield, hit 5th, not fluent 7th, weakened from 3 out, 9th of 12, dist behind Sizing At Midnight (11-13) at Ffos Las 3m hcp (4) gs in Oct.
Lex Talionis (IRE) 13-2 (11-10) Always prominent, went 2nd every chance 2 out, soon ridden, over 1 length down last, stayed on same pace run-in, 2nd of 10, 3 3/4l behind Misty Mai (10-8) at Ffos Las 3m hcp (5) sft in Nov.
Legend Of Zorro (IRE) 14-1 (10-9) Towards rear, jumped right 12th, mistake 4 out, ridden before 3 out, well off the pace but kept on from 2 out, 5th of 11, 27 1/4l behind Native Robin (11-8) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Sartene's Son (FR) 9-2 (11-5) Chased leaders, not fluent 3rd, went 2nd 13th, pushed along before 3 out, hung left and ridden when hit 2 out, stayed on same pace, stumbled last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 13l behind Very First Time (11-12) at Southwell 3m hcp (4) hvy in Nov.
Arquebusier (FR) 16-1 (11-10) Chased leaders until outpaced 13th, never on terms after, 5th of 8, 24l behind Torrent Des Mottes (10-9) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp (5) sft in Mar.
Knocknamona (IRE) 12-1 (10-0) Midfield, lost ground 10th, mistake 4 out, weakened before 3 out, 8th of 10, 17l behind Ard Chros (11-7) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp (4) hvy in Nov.
Khairagash (FR) 11-2 (10-7) Midfield, towards rear 3 out, modest headway before 2 out, well off the pace when hampered slightly last, ran on strongly flat, took 2nd close home, never nearer, 2nd of 10, 3/4l behind Go As You Please (11-6) at Leicester 2m hcp (5) sft in Dec.
Royal Act 12-1 (10-13) Towards rear, well held when a faller 3 out, at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (5) sft in Oct.
Battlefield (IRE) 80-1 (10-3) In rear, ridden after 11th, struggling before 4 out, tailed off, 11th of 12, dist behind Volcano (11-8) at Ludlow 3m hcp (5) gs in Nov.
Frankie Ballou (IRE) 50-1 (10-0) Jumped big 1st and next, chased winner until before 7th, weakened before 4 out, 7th of 8, dist behind Bushypark (11-1) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp (4) hvy in Dec.
