led narrowly, 3 lengths clear when hit 2 out, ridden and hard pressed when edged right between last 2, kept on under pressure flat, headed final stride
tracked leaders, reminder after 13th, mistake 5 out, pulled up before next
with leader, lost place and ridden after 3 out, weakened before next, tailed off
tracked leaders, effort on outside 3 out, soon chased leader and ridden, challenged between last 2, stayed on under pressure flat, led final stride
All of these can be given a chance of sorts but LIKE MINDED has the best recent form. Dan Skelton's charge found only one too good at Wetherby last week and looks set to take advantage of a slip down the weights. Rocky Bender was a well-beaten second at Sandown on his return to action but in better company than this and he has leading claims while Iona Days went close at Cartmel off a higher mark last year and will have come on for a recent pipe-opener. Accordingtojodie ran well in a novice event at Worcester and is not out of this with improvement likely.
Like Minded 9-2 (11-8) Tracked leaders, led 4 out, headed before last, kept on and no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 5l behind Saints And Sinners (11-3) at Wetherby 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft.
Accordingtojodie (IRE) 50-1 (10-12) Mid-division in touch, headway 12th, chased winner after 5 out, ridden and outpaced in 3rd 2 out, stayed on to regain 2nd towards finish, no impression, 2nd of 10, 3l behind Drum Valley (10-7) at Worcester 2m 7f nov chs (4) gs in Jun.
Iona Days (IRE) 10-1 (11-11) In touch, went 3rd before 5 out, beaten when mistake 3 out, 3rd of 5, 22l behind Guiding George (11-12) at Doncaster 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Nov.
Rocky Bender (IRE) 40-1 (10-9) Not fluent, held up in 4th, jumped slowly 4th, not fluent 16th, driven in 3rd and outpaced before 3 out, kept on into 2nd close home, no chance with winner, 2nd of 4, 11l behind Black Thunder (11-11) at Sandown 3m lst chs (1) sft.
Beauboreen (IRE) 25-1 (10-11) Close up, ridden and weakened 10th, in rear when hampered and unseated rider 12th, in a race won by Big Water (10-7) at Carlisle 2m 4f nov hcap ch (3) sft in Nov, 11 ran.
