in touch, went 2nd approaching 3rd, led before last stayed on well
chased leaders, weakened 3 out
led, jumped well, hard driven 2 out, headed before last, kept on under pressure
held up in rear, headway to chase leaders 3 out, never on terms
tracked leader, effort approaching 2 out, never a threat
in touch, headway after 3 out, chased leaders next, soon ridden to challenge, weakened last
midfield, ridden before 3 out, soon weakened
held up in rear, headway 3 out, soon no impression
midfield, never a factor
held up in rear, headway under pressure 2 out, chased leaders next, never on terms
tracked leaders, blundered 3 out, soon weakened
behind, mistake 3rd, ridden 4th, lost action 4 out, pulled up next
in touch, headway to chase leaders 3 out, weakened last
held up in rear, ridden before 4 out, soon beaten
took keen hold in midfield, weakened 3 out
pulled hard in midfield, weakened after 4 out
held up in rear, blundered 3 out, soon beaten
Nicky Henderson runs a couple of interesting types here in Cardinal Walter and Hassle. The former only managed one run on the Flat last year but is lightly raced and is unlikely to be lacking in match-fitness. The latter won over 1m6f for Clive Cox at Ascot in the summer so isn't lacking stamina, though an extra half-mile might not come amiss. SHWAIMAN may also be better suited by further but his class could see him make a winning start over timber as he was eighth in the Ascot Gold Cup in June. He won on the Flat here in 2013 and was also second to the useful Camborne on ground similar to today's. Father Edward should be winning soon judged on his second to Jack Frost at Ludlow while Nicholascopernicus and Topamichi are other Flat winners facing hurdles for the first time. Duke Of Yorkshire, Engrossing and Knight Bachelor are all worth noting for future reference.
Cardinal Walter (IRE) 9-4 (8-12) Held up in rear, rapid headway to lead over 6f out, headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 7, 3 1/2l behind Voodoo Prince (8-9) at Ripon 1m 4f stks (3) gd in Apr '13 (flat).
Crinkle Crags (IRE) 40-1 (10-12) Always behind, 11th of 15, well behind The Grey Taylor (11-5) at Wetherby 2m nov hdl (4) sft in Nov.
Duke Of Yorkshire 20-1 (10-12) Mid-division, ridden 3 out, no impression, 7th of 16, 25l behind Seldom Inn (11-5) at Newcastle 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Emperor Commodos 66-1 (10-12) Took keen hold, held up, good headway on inside approaching 7th, led and mistake 2 out, headed on long run to last, ridden and lost 2nd before last, no extra in 3rd flat, dropped to 4th close home, 4th of 9, 13l behind Minella For Steak (10-12) at Folkestone 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Dec '12.
Engrossing 66-1 (10-12) Behind, headway 3 out, kept on same pace from next, never reached leaders, 5th of 18, 8l behind Glingerburn (10-12) at Doncaster 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Father Edward (IRE) 9-2 (11-0) Led until after 3rd, led after next, ridden and headed last, stayed on same pace flat, 2nd of 16, 3 1/2l behind Jack Frost (10-11) at Ludlow 2m mdn hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Hassle (IRE) 14-1 (9-5) Held up, 15th before straight, one pace under pressure from over 1f out, 14th of 21, 10l behind El Salvador (9-5) at Curragh 2m hcp in Oct (flat).
Hernando Torres 20-1 (9-0) Soon towards rear, pushed along 3f out, headway under pressure over 1f out, stayed on into 3rd well inside final furlong, not pace of leading duo, 3rd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Coillte Cailin (9-3) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-70 (5) in Oct (flat).
Knight Bachelor 6-4fav (10-12) Prominent, ridden and every chance 3 out, weakened 2 out, blundered last, lost 3rd flat, 4th of 8, 31l behind Zaidiyn (10-12) at Bangor 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Magnolia Ridge (IRE) 100-1 (11-0) In rear, mistake 4 out, closed before 3 out, weakened next, 8th of 10, 27l behind Hunters Hoof (10-11) at Aintree 2m mdn hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Martin Chuzzlewit (IRE) 50-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, ridden 6th, stayed on from 2 out, never on terms, 7th of 11, 22l behind Sweet Deal (10-11) at Aintree 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) gd in Jun.
Nicholascopernicus (IRE) 16-1 (9-0) Behind, driven 3f out, ridden 2f out, headway when switched right over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, never reached leaders, 5th of 15, 9l behind Air Pilot (8-6) at Newbury 1m 2f hcp 105 (2) sft in Sep (flat).
Rossington 150-1 (10-5) Towards rear, struggling before 6th, tailed off when pulled up after 3 out, in a race won by Andi'amu (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 3f mdn hdl (4) sft in Nov, 11 ran.
Shwaiman (IRE) 12-1 (9-7) Tracked leaders, ridden and outpaced over 2f out, rallied inside final furlong, 4th of 6, 8l behind Rewaaya (9-0) at Leicester 1m 4f (2) sft in Oct (flat).
The Geegeez Geegee (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) In touch, ridden and weakened 3 out, 8th of 10, well behind Seedling (11-5) at Plumpton 2m nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Nov.
The Phantom Winger 66-1 (10-7) Behind, struggling when went wandered left and right approaching last (normal 3 out), 7th of 11, well behind Ebony Express (10-12) at Carlisle 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Nov.
Topamichi 7-1 (8-10) Prominent, every chance over 2f out, led over 1f out, kept on well under pressure, won at Windsor 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) hvy in Oct beating Space Walker (8-8) by 1/2l, 9 ran (flat).
Viking Warrior (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) Raced keenly, held up, always behind, 14th of 18, 42l behind Glingerburn (10-12) at Doncaster 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
