This is a modest heat but the handicapper still hasn't done the lightly-weighted Lifetime any favours. PERTUIS may well be capable of better over timber as he developed into a decent middle-distance handicapper on the Flat this year, winning at Pontefract and Catterick. He was placed on heavy ground on the level in France so we'll take a chance he'll handle underfoot conditions. Gran Torino didn't run badly before falling at the last at Haydock and has place prospects while Knight Valliant won over 2m4f here in October, though was behind Claude Carter at Marker Rasen earlier.
Lifetime (IRE) Evensfav (11-9) Led, went right 1st, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, well held when lost 2nd and mistake last, 3rd of 6, 5l behind Ritsi (10-5) at Wetherby 2m mdn clm hdl (5) hvy in Jun.
Claude Carter 20-1 (10-8) Always behind, tailed off, 8th of 9, 28l behind Nine Stories (11-6) at Musselburgh 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Nov.
Sir Tantallus Hawk 4-1 (10-13) Held up in touch, weakened before 2 out, pulled up before last, in a race won by Locked Inthepocket (10-7) at Perth 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in May, 8 ran.
Peaks Of Fire (IRE) 11-4 (11-2) Slowly away, behind, headway before 3rd to go in touch, went 2nd from 3rd until before last, kept on same pace, 3rd of 8, 8l behind Dune Shine (11-5) at Stratford 2m 3f cnd/am sll hdl (5) sft in Nov.
Gran Torino (IRE) 25-1 (11-7) Mid-division, not much room on inner before bend after 1st, outpaced 4 out, plugged on and in 4th and well held when mistake and unseated rider last, in a race won by San Telm (11-9) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) sft in Oct, 13 ran.
Anitopia 12-1 (11-0) Tracked leader, challenged 5th, led 3 out, headed last, one pace flat, 5th of 14, 3 1/2l behind Bonnie Burnett (10-7) at Ayr 2m mdn hdl (5) sft in Nov.
Knight Valliant 14-1 (10-2) Held up in rear in touch, steady headway on wide outside before 2 out, led last, ridden clear flat, won at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Oct beating Bandanaman (11-6) by 5l, 9 ran.
Pertuis (IRE) 50-1 (10-10) Held up towards rear, never on contention, 7th of 14, 32l behind Jackson Cage (11-9) at Wetherby 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Feb.
Goodlukin Lucy 25-1 (10-12) Led, headed after 3 out, mistake next, lost 2nd after last, kept on same pace, 3rd of 9, 19l behind Doyly Carte (10-12) at Musselburgh 2m mdn hdl (5) gd in Nov.
Sergeant Pink (IRE) 28-1 (10-12) Soon detached in rear, not fluent 7th, lost touch 9th, mistake and nearly unseated rider 11th, mistake next, tailed off, last of 6, well behind Red Tanber (11-7) at Musselburgh 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Feb.
Dynamic Drive (IRE) 125-1 (10-9) Tracked leading pair, not fluent 6th, mistake 2 out, weakened approaching last, 9th of 14, 28l behind Bonnie Burnett (10-7) at Ayr 2m mdn hdl (5) sft in Nov.