not fluent and never really travelled, in touch, lost place 6th, driven and mistake 10th, soon in rear, tailed off and pulled up
led, headed 13th, chased leader until before next, stayed in 3rd until mistake and weakened 3 out, tailed off
held up in rear, raced awkwardly and got well behind from 6th, mistake next, headway 11th, modest 5th when blundered 3 out, weakened, tailed off
jumped well, chased leaders, went 2nd 10th, led 13th, in command from 2 out, stayed on strongly from last, driven out
held up in touch, headway to 3rd at 11th, chased winner before 4 out, mistake and pecked next, driven before 2 out, soon held, kept on gamely for clear 2nd
held up last, blundered 3rd, steady headway 8th, 4th when blundered 3 out, went 3rd and no chance with leading duo when blundered badly last and great recovery from rider to stay in saddle
chased leading pair until 6th, weakened 12th, tailed off
towards rear when blundered badly and unseated rider 8th
chased leader until 10th, weakening when mistake 4 out, tailed off
towards rear, no chance when blundered 3 out, pulled up soon after
Nonrunner
Calgary Bay has an alternative engagement at Doncaster today and probably needs further but there are possibilities about the Nicholls pair Noland and CHAPOTURGEON, the latter scoring over C&D at the Festival in 2009. He looked on the way back at Exeter last time and is given a tentative vote. Wishfull Thinking looks to be facing a stiff task for novice, however, while last year's winner The Sawyer has struggled this season and Buffalo Bob, Fine Parchment and Drever Route have something to prove at this level. Bakbenscher gradually got his act together over fences last year and will have needed the run at Kempton in November. He may have a bit more scope than his rivals and is another to consider.
Noland 11-4 (11-0) Led, headed over 10f out, led 5f out, ridden over 2f out, headed just over 1f out, stayed on, not pace of winner, 2nd of 9, 1 1/4l behind Pepe Simo (11-0) at Kempton 2m Nat Hunt Flat (4yo+) (AWT) (4) std in Dec.
Little Josh (IRE) 13-2 (11-1) Led, driven after 3 out, mistake and headed next, soon ridden and one pace, weakened last, 5th of 16, 19l behind Poquelin (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gs in Dec.
Chapoturgeon (FR) 13-2 (11-7) Held up in rear, not fluent 5 out, ridden and beaten 4 out, jumped badly left 2 out, 3rd of 5, 13l behind Royal Charm (11-0) at Exeter 2m 1f grad ch (2) gs in Dec.
Wishfull Thinking 8-1 (11-8) Chased leading pair, badly hampered and nearly unseated rider 7th (water), recovered to 2nd approaching 10th, hit 3 out, closed on leader when lost 2nd before next, stayed challenging on inside and every chance last, stayed on same pace flat, 2nd of 6, 1 1/4l behind Reve De Sivola (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov chs (2) gd in Dec.
Calgary Bay (IRE) 16-1 (10-6) In touch on inside, effort 3 out, ridden next, chased leading pair approaching last, no impression flat, lost 3rd towards finish, 4th of 16, 8l behind Poquelin (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gs in Dec.
Bakbenscher 16-1 (11-9) Held up behind, mistakes 2nd and 4th, 5th and outpaced when mistake 4 out, soon no chance with leaders, tailed off, 5th of 6, 43l behind Riverside Theatre (11-9) at Kempton 2m 4f grad ch (2) gd in Nov.
The Sawyer (BEL) 8-1 (10-11) Led after 2nd, headed 9th, weakened approaching 12th, 6th of 11, 30l behind Tatenen (10-13) at Ascot 2m 5f hcp chs (2) gs.
Atouchbetweenacara (IRE) 80-1 (11-7) Led to 10th, chased leaders, outpaced 5 out, weakened from next, tailed off, 6th of 7, well behind Imperial Commander (11-7) at Haydock 3m chs G1 (1) gs in Nov.
Buffalo Bob (IRE) 4-1fav (11-1) Led, mistake 3rd, ridden and headed before last, weakened final 150 yards, 4th of 17, 19l behind Blazing Bailey (11-0) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs.
Drever Route (IRE) 11-4fav (10-12) Held up towards rear, headway to track leaders 10th, challenged 2 out, ridden to lead last, soon edged right and wandered flat, kept on well, won at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Oct beating Film Festival (10-3) by 1l, 9 ran.
Fine Parchment (IRE) 9-2 (10-6) In touch, ridden 4 out, one pace next, 8th of 11, 34l behind Chance Du Roy (10-9) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs (2) sft.
