held up in touch, chased winner after 3 out, blundered 2 out, held when not fluent last
tracked leader, led 7th, stayed on strongly from last
led to 7th, weakened approaching 10th
in rear, weakened from 10th, tailed off
tracked leaders, pressed winner from 8th until weakened after 3 out
Chrysander and Ouzbeck are the obvious two and their form is probably fairly similar; Ouzbeck is likely to be shorter in the betting but Chysander has the game so he gets the vote. Hopefully the selection's fall last time at Market Rasen will not have affected his confidence and already rated 134, he should run well although his tendency to jump right on occasion will not suit this left-handed track. Ouzbeck is a promising gelding who has taken his two fence starts to date with consummate ease; he was a fair hurdler and he looks sure to make up into a nice chaser but he didn't beat much last time out. Goldstar Dancer is out of form, but at least he has won at the course before and he may find that chasing will suit, however he, along with Fifth Column and Prince Villevert appear to be making up the numbers. The proverbial two-horse race, with Chrysander given the vote.
Chrysander 5-1 (11-12) Chased winner to 5th, in touch when fell 3 out in race won by Seymour Weld (11-2) at Market Rasen 2m 4f nov chs (4) gd in Jun, 6 ran.
Ouzbeck (FR) 1-2fav (11-5) Tracked leaders going well, not fluent 3 out, led next, ridden clear flat, won at Hexham 2m 4f nov chs (4) gf in Jun beating Contact Dancer (11-5) by 6l, 7 ran.
Fifth Column (USA) 66-1 (10-4) Took keen hold, held up in touch, weakened 6th, 7th of 12, well behind Kirby's Vic (10-13) at Worcester 2m nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd.
Goldstar Dancer (IRE) 50-1 (10-7) Chased leader until 4th, soon weakened, tailed off, 8th of 10, well behind Nortonthorpe Lad (10-6) at N Abbot 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd.
Prince Villevert (FR) 16-1 (11-4) Held up, behind from 5th, last of 9, well behind Laredo Sound (11-4) at Southwell 2m mdn hdl (5) gd in Jan.
