tracked leaders, led 7th, ridden and narrow leader when blundered badly and headed last, not recover
held up, close at order 7th, challenged leader last, soon led, ran on
in touch, close up when unseated rider, four out
mid-division, headway 6th, every chance when blundered 4 out, soon weakened
held up, mistake 1st, hit and lost place 7th, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, no extra flat
led 1st, headed next, weakened when unseated rider
led after 1st, headed 7th, weakened
held up, mistake 3rd, headway and hit 5 out, ridden when mistake 3 out, in 4th and held when fell off
Wages can pay to follow here ahead of Glengarra, Before The Mast and Coach Lane. Welsh trainer Alison Thorpe has been extremely profitable to follow this term, and should collect again today with Wages who bids to end a sequence of seconds. Successful in a selling hurdle at Market Rasen on his first start for the yard, he has since been over fences as well, his last outing at Worcester resulting in a five-length defeat by Lascar De Ferbet when sent off as as favourite. Although the six-year-old is creeping up the weights, he can now benefit from the assistance of Richard Johnson who rides plenty of winners for the stable, and should make a bold bid. Glengarra has to give 10lb to the selection but should go well, while Before The Mast has been knocking at the door but in truth has been exasperating to follow. Coach Lane is a past course-and-distance winner and can go well fresh, but most of Venetia Williams' inmates have needed the run, so Wages appears to be the percentage call.
Glengarra (IRE) 8-1 (11-7) Tracked winner, blundered last, regained 2nd close home, 2nd of 7, 4l behind Launde (11-12) at Aintree 2m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Oct.
Roofing Spirit (IRE) 8-1 (10-8) Held up, jumped right 1st, mistake 2nd, headway after 9th, slightly hampered 4 out, went 4th approaching 2 out, stayed on same pace, 4th of 11, 14l behind Jacks Craic (11-12) at Newbury 2m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Mar.
Coach Lane 9-2 (11-11) Led until 1st, prominent, ridden after 3rd, weakened approaching last, 8th of 13, 23l behind Dorneys Well (10-10) at Exeter 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Apr.
Master d'Or (FR) 9-2 (11-12) Held up and keen, some headway when mistake last, never troubled leaders, 5th of 7, 12l behind Jefertiti (11-4) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Oct.
Wages 6-4fav (11-12) Held up, headway 4 out, ridden to chase winner and hung left from approaching 2 out, no impression, 2nd of 5, 5l behind Lascar de Ferbet (10-6) at Worcester 2m cnd hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Oct.
Arctic Spirit 33-1 (9-11) Led to 6th, weakened after 8th, behind when mistake 3 out and pulled up 2 out in race won by Harris Bay (10-12) at Towcester 2m 5f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Oct, 9 ran.
Nuit Sombre (IRE) 8-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened 2 out, 7th of 9, 32l behind Terrible Tenant (10-4) at Hereford 2m hcp chs 0-110 (4) gf in Sept.
Before The Mast (IRE) 9-1 (10-3) Held up, headway after 4 out, challenged from 2 out, no extra close home, 2nd of 10, 3/4l behind Supreme Tadgh (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 5f hcp chs 0-110 (4) hvy in Oct.