always in rear, struggling before 9th, tailed off
not fluent, led until tried to stop and not run on after 7th, virtually pulled up after
raced wide, chased leaders, weakened 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before last
held up in mid-division, good headway 8th, tracking leader when hit 4 out, led 2 out, driven approaching last, stayed on gamely flat
chased leaders, hit 5th, weakened 4 out, tailed off
behind, headway to chase leaders 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out
left in lead after 7th, ridden 3 out, headed next, weakened quickly
held up, mistake 3rd, headway 8th, chased leaders 4 out, ridden and weakened after next
always in rear
held up in rear, brief effort approaching 4 out, soon beaten
raced wide, always in rear
raced wide, close up, challenged and hit 9th, ridden 3 out, weakened next
held up, headway 9th, tracked leader pair 3 out, chased winner from 2 out, driven on inner before last, not quicken and lost 2nd flat
mid-division, weakened 3 out, tailed off
never better than mid-division, tailed off 4 out
always in rear division, tailed off when pulled up before last
Standin Obligation will take the beating and gets the vote over Rooftop Protest, Jackson and Rambling Minster. Standin Obligation came over from Ireland with a big reputation, having won three point-to-points on the bounce, and has carried owner David Johnson's colours into the winner's enclosure four times in succession since joining Martin Pipe. His three victories last spring stamped him as one to follow this term, and he did not disappoint when going in again on his comeback at Chepstow, where he led home a Johnson 1-2-3. He is due to go chasing after this, so they won't be trying to protect his handicap mark and the seven-year-old should remain unbeaten. He beat Jackson by a neck off level weights when they met at Exeter in April and now re-opposes on much worse terms so strictly on the book should be held by Alan King's charge, but we shall stay loyal to the Pipe inmate. Rooftop Protest limbered up for this with a win on the Flat at Musselburgh under Kieren Fallon last week but this race has been the plan for some time, and he is fit and fancied so is taken to reach the frame at least. Rambling Minster lobbed along on the bridle behind Inglish Drever before blowing up on his reappearance at Wetherby and he is useful at best. So, he is another for the short-list, but again we return to a Pipe runner in the shape of Standin Obligation.
Carlys Quest 18-1 (11-8) Behind, lost touch 8th, tailed off when pulled up at the last in race won by Inglis Drever (11-8) at Wetherby 3m 1f hdl Grd 2 (A) sft in Oct, 11 ran.
Grey Report (IRE) 6-1 (11-6) Mistakes, chased winner until fell at the 6th in race won by Tigers Lair (11-12) at Stratford 2m 4f nov chs (D) gd in Jun, 6 ran.
Holland Park (IRE) 4-1 (10-9) Mid-division, headway 6th, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 9th of 13, 39l behind Mr Cool (10-4) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp hdl (B) gs in May.
Standin Obligation (IRE) 11-2 (10-7) Held up in touch, led approaching 4 out, readily, won at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl (B) sft in Oct beating Yourman (10-0) by 3l, 9 ran.
Limerick Leader (IRE) 9-2 (11-3) Ran in snatches, outpaced and jumped left 12th, never dangerous after, last of 6, 27l behind Native Ivy (11-9) at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-130 (C) gs.
Rambling Minster 33-1 (11-0) Held up, headway 4 out, ridden to chase leaders next, weakened from 2 out, 6th of 11, 26l behind Inglis Drever (11-8) at Wetherby 3m 1f hdl Grd 2 (A) sft in Oct.
Rooftop Protest (IRE) 5-2 (11-5) Led, headed 3rd, regained lead approaching 4 out, drew clear after 2 out, eased after last, won at Punchestown 2m 2f lst hdl gd in Oct beating Master Albert (11-6) by 12l, 4 ran.
Native Emperor 100-1 (10-5) Towards rear, mistake 8th (Canal Turn), blundered and unseated rider at the 9th in race won by Hedgehunter (11-1) at Aintree 4m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (A) gs in Apr, 40 ran.
Chicuelo (FR) 50-1 (11-4) Always behind, 14th of 17, 37l behind The Market Man (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-140 (B) gd in Oct.
Zibeline (IRE) 33-1 (11-1) Always towards rear, 17th of 20, well behind Genghis (10-13) at Aintree 2m 4f lst hcp hdl (A) gs in Apr.
World Wide Web (IRE) 33-1 (11-11) Behind, hampered 3rd, blundered and unseated rider at the 5th in race won by Zeta's River (11-2) at Newbury 3m hcp chs 0-130 (C) gs in Mar, 14 ran.
Jackson (FR) 9-4 (11-4) In touch, mistake and reminders 5th, mistake again 3 out, led approaching 2 out, all out flat, won at Warwick 3m 1f nh nov hdl (E) gd in Oct beating Harry Blade (11-4) by a hd, 10 ran.
Olaso (GER) 33-1 (11-7) Mid-division, ridden and headway approaching 3 out, weakened next, 15th of 20, 31l behind No Refuge (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hdl Grd 1 (A) gd in Mar.
Phar From Frosty (IRE) 11-1 (11-12) Led until 2nd, chased winner after, every chance 2 out, soon one pace, 2nd of 8, 12l behind Tomina (11-12) at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-125 (D) gd.
Oodachee 10-1 (10-4) Prominent, 5th 3 out, 3rd and challenged next, no extra close home, 4th of 19, 2 1/2l behind Sirius Storm (10-5) at Naas 2m 4f hcp hdl gd in Oct.
Glacial Evening (IRE) 6-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, ridden from 8th, kept on until weakened last, 2nd of 8, 8l behind After Eight (11-7) at Towcester 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-125 (D) sft.
Redspin (IRE) 13-8fav (10-12) Held up in touch, went 2nd 3 out, soon ridden, switched approaching last, led, edged left flat, kept on, won at Ludlow 2m 5f nov hdl (E) gf in Oct beating Murphy's Nails (10-12) by 1/2l, 11 ran.
