led, slow 5th, ridden 3 out, headed after 2nd last, mistake, weakened last
held up in rear, headway 3 out, soon chasing leaders, stayed on well towards finish, not reached winner
held up in rear, headway 7th, soon prominent, lost place 4 out, blundered badly, unseated rider 2 out
always behind, pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, headway to chase leaders 7th, under pressure before 2 out, no impression after
prominent, effort 3 out, soon under pressure, weakened
blundered badly 1st, in touch, ridden to lead approaching last, ran on well
held up in touch, ridden to challenge 3 out, under pressure, weakened before last
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Quite an open handicap chase where Beau Torero , Stormy Beech, Ton-Chee and Barton Sun will all be popular after wins last time and Beau Torero gets the nod. The Brendan Pollock trained gelding will have conditions and trip to suit here and came back after a decent summer break with a gutsy Fakenham win last time, and he has been raied just 3lb for that. That looks very fair and he is capable of following up. Barton Sun may prove to be the big danger if he can improve on his defeat of Moor Spirit at Sedgefield last time, which proved he acts on a sound surface as well as with cut. This trip is ideal and a 7lb rise is probably not insurmountable. However, like many of these he is inconsistent, along with the likes of Stormy Beech and Ton-Chee. We will have a clue to the chances of the latter after the run of Sparkling Taff earlier on the card but on the face of it he could go very well, though a 9lb rise won't help. Stormy Beech is up 5lb for beating Whatcanyousay over c&d last time but although capable of going well from this mark he struggles to win from it, and so he too is passed over in favour of Beau Torero.
Beau Torero (FR) 4-5fav (11-9) Led, ridden and headed between last 2, rallied to lead last, stayed on gamely, won at Fakenham 2m cnd hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Nov beating Drum Native (10-8) by a nk, 4 ran.
Stormy Beech 6-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, headway 8th, challenged 2 out, hit last, ridden and stayed on under pressure to lead flat, won at Catterick 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd beating Whatcanyasay (9-7) by 2l, 8 ran.
Eborarry (IRE) 15-2 (10-12) Chased leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, switched left approaching last, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 6, 3 1/2l behind Ormello (11-10) at Wetherby 2m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Nov.
Ton-Chee 14-1 (11-5) Held up behind, ridden and headway 4 out, led last, stayed on flat, won at Newcastle 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Mar beating Sparkling Taff (11-8) by 2 1/2l, 10 ran.
Guerilla (AUS) 6-1 (11-6) In touch, headway 4 out, led 2 out, ridden and headed flat, no extra, 3rd of 8, 2l behind Stormy Beech (11-7) at Catterick 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd.
Barton Sun (IRE) 9-2 (10-10) Held up behind, headway 4 out, led after 2 out, ridden out flat, won at Sedgefield 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Nov beating Moor Spirit (11-12) by 1l, 9 ran.
Blast The Past 11-2fav (11-9) Held up towards rear, headway 3 out, stayed on under pressure near finish, 2nd of 13, 3 1/2l behind Thehonourablelady (11-2) at Sedgefield 2m 4f mrs hcp hdl (4) gd in Nov.
Loch Oscaig 9-2 (11-1) Tracked leaders, ridden approaching 4 out, in touch when blundered 2 out, soon weakened, 4th of 13, 17l behind Prince Balthasar (10-10) at Musselburgh 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Nov.
Finland (UAE) 16-1 (11-12) Towards rear when fell at the 4th in race won by Ballito (10-0) at Musselburgh 3m cnd hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd, 7 ran.
Fencote Gold 4-1 (10-5) Made all, ridden approaching last, held on towards finish, won at Bangor 2m 1f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Nov beating Kentmere (11-12) by 1l, 8 ran.
Kerry's Blade (IRE) 5-1 (10-7) Towards rear, mistake 3rd, headway 7th, ridden and kept on same pace from 3 out, 5th of 8, 12l behind Stormy Beech (11-7) at Catterick 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd.
