held up in touch, steady headway from 10th, left in lead 4 out and hampered, clear 2 out, kept on
led after 2nd, clear 9th, fading when fell 4 out
led 1st, jumped right 3, 4 and 5, left 2nd 4 out and hampered, beaten when pecked 2 out
tracked leaders, ridden 11th, weakened next, pulled up before 4 out
held up rear, headway 11th, ridden to chase leaders when hampered slightly 4 out, chased winner in vain from 2 out
never a factor
in rear, slow jump 8th, stayed on moderately from 4 out
always in rear, pulled up before 4 out, soon dismounted
tracked leaders, ridden and lost place 9th
Mick Divine gets the vote over Denarius Secundus and Blazing Batman in a race that will take little winning. Quite a few of these are past their sell-by date now, and with that in mind we shall plump for one of the younger brigade, the eight-year-old Mick Divine, who although having to carry more weight than most, at least has a bit of scope. Jimmy Frost's gelding has yet to win on these shores since coming over from Ireland but has taken on better opponents, and in fact is well handicapped compared to last year. He meets nothing of the calibre of Naysauteur to whom he was third at Exeter last time, and will go on the ground, so should be the one to beat. Denarius Secundus has not been out since May and is a plater at best so this is his level. He will probably try and make all, but we expect him to tire in the searching finishing straight at the Welsh track. Blazing Batman has won here before but he is on a downward spiral now and cannot be backed with confidence, so the race looks set up for Mick Divine.
Elgar 12-1 (11-12) In touch, ridden approaching 4 out, weakened after next, 6th of 15, 32l behind Enitsag (11-9) at Exeter 2m 3f hts chs (5) gs in Apr.
Mick Divine (IRE) 7-1 (10-4) Prominent, blundered badly 5th, weakened after 11th, 3rd of 6, 25l behind Neysauteur (11-10) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Oct.
Yaiyna Tango (FR) 25-1 (10-12) In touch, ridden and weakened 4 out, 6th of 15, 22l behind Taksina (10-9) at Worcester 2m hcp chs 0-88 (5) gs in Oct.
Denarius Secundus 3-1 (10-1) Led to 4th, led again 7th, ridden and headed 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 6, 26l behind Schoolhouse Walk (9-11) at Towcester 2m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in May.
Anflora 6-1 (10-10) Mid-division, never a danger, 8th of 17, well behind Up The Pub (11-2) at Chepstow 3m 2f hcp chs 0-90 (5) gs in Oct.
Blazing Batman 150-1 (10-7) In touch until lost place and dropped to rear 5th, headway approaching last, stayed on run-in to snatch moderate 3rd near finish, 3rd of 11, 32l behind Paulo Dancer (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hdl (3) gs in Oct.
Bonny Boy (IRE) 9-4jt-fav (9-11) Tracked leader, mistake 5th, led 6th, ridden, headed 4 out, one pace, 4th of 7, 22l behind Clearly In Motion (11-7) at Taunton 2m 3f sll hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Oct.
Cleymor House (IRE) 25-1 (10-0) In touch, ridden 7th, weakened 3 out, 7th of 9, 42l behind Harris Bay (10-12) at Towcester 2m 5f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Oct.
