always behind, pulled up before 12th
prominent to 2nd, lost place 5th, mistake next, tailed off 8th, pulled up before 9th
mid-division, headway 5th, mistake 8th, weakened 5 out, no chance when pulled up before 2 out
behind, headway 6th, mistake 8th, weakened 12th, tailed off, pulled up 5 out
mid-division, headway after 7th, mistake 13th, weakened 4 out
held up rear, headway 7th, chased leader 5 out, ridden 3 out, challenged 2 out, ran on to lead close home
chased leader until mistake 8th, in touch but weakened 13th
mid-division to 7th, soon behind, pulled up before 12th
in rear, tailed off 7th, pulled up before 12th
in touch, lost position 3rd, blundered and unseated rider 6th
led, mistake 10th, clear 4 out, ridden 2 out, pecked last, headed close home
mid-division, hit 4th, soon behind, tailed off, pulled up before 12th
chased leaders, weakened 13th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
Former pointer Precious Bane has taken advantage of a favourable mark to win his last two starts over regulation fences and can score again with the main dangers looking to be Grumpy Stumpy and Notanotherdonkey. The last mentioned has been placed off today's mark in his last two starts and can be expected to run to a similar level again. Jonjo O'Neill's Good Judgement is less exposed than most of these and has to be respected but his yard is not in good form at present. By comparison, the stable of Richard Phillips is absolutely flying at present so Mandingo Chief cannot be discounted especially with improvement likely for his recent reappearance. Stablemate Datito has to be respected on his return as well, while Hazeljack will have appreciated every drop of rain that has fallen on the track of late. Commanche Jim was well held on his return and needs to improve significantly to trouble the judge so a bigger danger is likely to come from Grumpy Stumpy, who should appreciate the return to regulation fences having fallen in the cross country race at Cheltenham last time. Precious Bane has done nothing wrong since being switched from point-to-points though and gets the vote to make it three from three.
Good Judgement (IRE) 17-2 (11-8) Held up, not fluent 3rd and 4th, hit 9th and 11th, ridden and headway to chase leaders approaching 2 out, kept on same pace, 4th of 7, 4 1/2l behind Moustique de L'Isle (11-2) at Market Rasen 3m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (E) hvy in Nov.
Mandingo Chief (IRE) 9-2jt-fav (11-11) Held up, headway 4th, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, weakened 2 out, 3rd of 9, 29l behind Harris Bay (10-13) at Towcester 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-105 (E) sft in Nov.
Notanotherdonkey (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, mistake 9th (water), stayed on under pressure to take modest 2nd flat, 2nd of 15, 12l behind Nazimabad (10-4) at Cheltenham 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-110 (D) gd in Oct.
Datito (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) Held up, headway 10th, soon ridden, weakened approaching 14th, behind when pulled up at the last in race won by Calcot Flyer (11-0) at Worcester 2m 7f nov hcp chs 0-105 (E) gs in Apr, 9 ran.
Hazeljack 25-1 (10-0) Jumped well, chased leader, led 4th until 9th, led 11th, ridden and headed after 3 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 11, 14l behind All In The Stars (11-4) at Fontwell 3m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (D) gs in Nov.
Commanche Jim (IRE) 3-1 (11-11) Led until 3rd, with leader until 10th, soon lost touch, left remote 2nd, 2nd of 4, 20l behind Kausse de Thaix (11-12) at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp chs 0-105 (E) sft in Nov.
Grumpy Stumpy 20-1 (11-5) Prominent, improving when unseated rider 18th unseated rider at the 18th in race won by Spot Thedifference (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m 7f crs cty chs (B) gd in Nov, 14 ran.
Precious Bane (IRE) Evensfav (10-4) Made all, stayed on strongly, won at Hexham 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-105 (E) gs in Nov beating Algarve (10-10) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
