held up in touch, not fluent 7th, chased leaders 13th, hampered and left in 2nd 4 out, every chance approaching 2 out, stayed on same pace
close up, chased leader 11th, left in lead 14th, challenged 2 out, ran on
held up, blundered and good recovery 2nd, mistake 9th, soon behind, pulled up before 5 out
prominent, mistake 1st, fell 10th
led, mistake 9th, fell 14th
tracked leaders, lost place 10th, soon behind
held up, effort 11th, weakened 13th, beaten when left in moderate 3rd 4 out
The Grocers Curate can give weight and a beating to these rivals, Pebble Bay and Dunbrody Millar may provide most danger. Nicky Henderson's gelding is very lightly raced having taken part in two hurdles events and a beginners chase. The handicapper has been quite cautious but he is open to any amount of improvement and with the yard in such great form he is the sporting selection. Dunbrody Millar gained a deserved victory at Fontwell last time after hitting the post a couple of times. Off a nice racing weight today he should be involved in the finish again. Pebble Bay has been mixing chasing and hurdling with a fair amount of success. He does look a little high in the weights at the moment but should still make his presence felt. Recent winner Snowy may do best of the others, but in a quite modest contest the inexperienced The Grocers Curate just gets our vote.
The Grocers Curate (IRE) 11-10fav (11-0) Tracked leaders, jumped slowly 5th, chased winner 10th to 3 out, one paced under pressure before next, 3rd of 11, 16l behind Pass Me A Dime (11-0) at Plumpton 2m 4f beg chs (E) gd in Nov.
Dolmur (IRE) 9-1 (11-0) In touch, ridden 4 out, weakened 3 out, 4th of 10, 22l behind Alderburn (11-0) at Leicester 2m 4f beg chs (E) gd.
Grande Creole (FR) 15-2 (11-0) Held up towards rear when brought down in race won by Cruising River (11-0) at Taunton 2m 7f beg chs (D) gd, 8 ran.
Pebble Bay 7-1 (11-6) With leader when blundered badly and unseated rider in race won by Mel In Blue (10-7) at Kelso 2m 6f nov chs (C) gs, 8 ran.
Dunbrody Millar (IRE) 10-3 (11-11) Led after 1st, narrowly headed approaching 2 out, led last, kept on gamely, all out, won at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp chs 0-100 (F) sft beating Ebony Jack (10-2) by 1/2l, 11 ran.
Cirrus (FR) 7-2 (11-2) Mid-division, close up 9th, reminders 13th, soon lost place, behind when pulled up at the 16th in race won by Weapons Inspector (11-2) at Sedgefield 3m 3f mdn chs (E) hvy, 11 ran.
Waynesworld (IRE) 4-1jt-fav (10-10) Behind, hit 3rd, struggling 4 out, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Qualitair Pleasure (11-7) at Doncaster 3m nov hcp hdl 0-100 (E) gd in Nov, 15 ran.
Snowy (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Held up, in touch, pushed along halfway, headway under pressure 12th, outpaced 4 out, 4th of 11, 29l behind Miss Mattie Ross (9-10) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp chs 0-120 (D) gs in Nov.
