with leaders, led 2nd, headed 4th, tracked leaders, lost place from 11th, tailed off and pulled up before last
led to 2nd, soon lost place, mistake 8th, pulled up before 10th
held up towards rear, ridden before 3 out, no impression
held up mid-division, pushed along before 11th, son reminders, tailed off and pulled up before 12th
behind, pushed along 7th, fell 9th
close up, led before 8th, headed 11th, weakened from 13th
held up towards rear, headway 10th, went 2nd before 5 out, led flat, kept on well
with leaders, led 4th, headed before 8th, led again 11th, ridden before last, headed flat, one pace
Nonrunner
Nothing jumps off the page in a field with many question mark performers and ROYAL KICKS gets only a tenative nomination. He enjoyed a pipe-opener over hurdles in October after six months off behind American Spin and has every chance on the best of his form, though can not always be guaranteed to give his running. Quattrocento's form is equally erratic but he's perfectly capable of scoring here if consenting to give of his best, while Soft Spoken Guy finds himself at the head of the weights but is the one who could improve on efforts to date. Seize will be staying on late in the day but would prefer a longer trip.
Soft Spoken Guy (IRE) 9-1 (11-1) Held up towards rear, mistake 11th, pushed along before 13th and outpaced, kept on from last to take 3rd flat, no impression, 3rd of 6, 15l behind The Panama Kid (11-2) at Kelso 2m 6f Novice Handicap Chase (0-135) (4yo+) (3) gs in Oct.
Milans Man (IRE) 4-1 (10-7) Led, mistake when headed 14th, remained prominent, under pressure 2 out, weakened after last, 4th of 5, 36l behind Soft Spoken Guy (10-12) at Kelso 3m 1f nov chs (4) gs in Apr.
Quattrocento (FR) 3-1 (11-5) Close up, mistake 12th, ridden 3 out, weakened after next, 3rd of 5, 18l behind Kaybeew (11-7) at Ffos Las 3m hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Nov.
Craiglands (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, stumbled 4th, mistake 8th, struggling 15th, no extra in modest 4th before 3 out, tired went right and lost 4th 2 out, went badly right and just about clambered over last tailed off, 5th of 9, well behind Hold On Julio (11-4) at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Nov.
Royal Kicks (FR) 7-1 (10-7) Chased leading trio, went 3rd approaching 10th, plugged on same pace, 3rd of 8, 29l behind American Spin (10-12) at Fontwell 3m 3f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Oct.
Sacre Toi (FR) 66-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, mistake 14th, in mid-division when fell 5 out, in a race won by Lockstown (11-9) at Newcastle 3m hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Nov, 9 ran.
Seize 33-1 (10-5) In touch, driven and outpaced after 5 out, kept on same pace from next, no impression, 5th of 10, 16l behind Neptune Equester (11-12) at Haydock 3m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Nov.
Deuteronomy (IRE) 9-1 (10-9) Prominent, lost place approaching 9th, some headway 3 out, no impression, 6th of 12, 11l behind Work Boy (11-3) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Oct.
Quel Bruere (FR) 10-1 (11-2) Always towards rear, hit 9th, pushed along next, tailed off 12th, 7th of 9, 38l behind Monsieur Jourdain (11-6) at Wetherby 2m 6f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Nov.