led, hit 11th, headed before next, ridden and lost place after 3 out (usual 4 out), weakened before 2 out, tailed off
soon behind, mistake 4th, struggling final circuit, tailed off when pulled up after 3 out (usual 4 out)
chased leaders, reminders after 11th, ridden after 3 out (usual 4 out), headway under pressure before 2 out, stayed on to chase winner flat, always held
tracked leader, effort to challenge before 2 out, soon ridden and one pace, disputed 3rd and no extra when fell last
mistakes, held up behind on outside, headway 11th, never reached leaders, weakened before 2 out, tailed off
blundered 1st, chased leaders on outside, lost place 10th, behind and struggling 3 out (usual 4 out), plugged on, left modest 4th last
mid-division, struggling when hit 12th, weakened before 2 out, tailed off
tracked leaders, headway on inside before 2 out, led between last 2, ridden clear flat, stayed on well (4 fences omitted)
held up behind, headway on inside after 8th, led when hit 12th, ridden and headed between last 2, no extra in 3rd from last
CLOTH CAP needed his chasing debut last month and showed the benefit when scoring with a bit in hand at Stratford. He looks a young staying chaser to follow and can take this. The Paddy Pie followed his victory over hurdles in June with a promising debut over fences at Hexham and was then beaten just a neck at Wetherby. He's still well treated while Red Giant completed a double in August and might have been there at the finish of the Durham National at Sedgefield last month had his rider mistakenly took him around the second last, which he thought had been omitted. He likes a stamina test and should get one here. Same Circus won over the course and distance in February and followed-up at Bangor. She's capable of going well here providing she's over her recent fall over hurdles. Pickamix didn't have much chance at Cheltenham last time but previous form on good going puts him in the frame.
Straidnahanna (IRE) 66-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, mistake 5th, lost place from 10th, tailed off 22nd, pulled up after, at Ayr 4m hcp (1) gd in Apr.
Pickamix 10-1 (11-8) Led 2nd, headed 3rd, led next, not fluent 9th, headed approaching 2 out, 4th and beaten when pecked last, weakened flat, 4th of 5, 22l behind Lil Rockerfeller (11-5) at Cheltenham 3m (2) gd in Oct.
Red Giant (IRE) 5-2 (10-9) Chased leaders, jumped right 5th, effort when left in 2nd 2 out, no extra closing stages, 2nd of 4, 13l behind Dandy Dan (10-11) at Kelso 3m 2f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Jovial Joey (IRE) 3-1 (11-8) Tracked winner, pushed along before 4 out, no impression when lost 2nd before 2 out, weakened last, 4th of 5, 28 1/4l behind Fixed Rate (11-8) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Rock On Fruity (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) Close up, progress to 2nd after 1st, mistake and pecked at 3rd, soon reminders, 3rd to clear leader at 7th, weakened in 3rd before 4 out, mistake 3 out, 5th of 8, dist behind Presenting Mahler (9-11) at Listowel 2m 1f hcp sft in Sep.
Same Circus (IRE) 5-2 (11-12) Tracked winner until sprawled on landing and fell 8th, at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Ballycrystal (IRE) 16-1 (11-11) Mid-division, headway on outside 10th, 6th and struggling after 4 out, well beaten before next, 9th of 13, 36l behind Exitas (11-8) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Sep.
Cloth Cap (IRE) 10-1 (11-10) Soon chasing leaders, mistake normal 3 out, challenged off last bend, led bypassing omitted last, stayed on, won at Stratford 2m 7f hcp (4) gd in Nov beating Soupy Soups (11-12) by 2l, 9 ran.
The Paddy Pie (IRE) 5-2 (11-11) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 9th, led 4 out, ridden and not fluent 2 out, edged left flat, headed towards finish, 2nd of 5, nk behind Fingerontheswitch (11-10) at Wetherby 3m hcp (4) gd in Nov.
