mid-division, ridden 4 out, never troubled leaders
tracked leader, led before 3rd, made rest, ridden and stayed on flat and always holding rival
took keen hold jumped left, led, headed before 3rd, chased winner until outpaced approaching 3 out, plugged on
in rear, headway 4th, ridden to chase winner 3 out, stayed on flat but always held by winner
keen in touch, ridden 4 out, weakened next
tracked leaders, outpaced 4th, plugged on from 2 out
held up, ridden and weakened after 3rd, soon tailed off, pulled up 2 out
held up, ridden and weakened 4th, tailed off
Flat winner NUMEN had 10 attempts to get off the mark over hurdles in Ireland but could only manage three places. However, he scored easily over fences for Lucy Jones at Hereford in August and, with A P McCoy doing the steering today, is fancied to follow up over the smaller obstacles here. Rookie trainer Tom Symonds, a former assistant to Nicky Henderson and James Fanshawe, saddles Flat winner Tweedledrum and she is potentially the most interesting of the newcomers.
Alarming Alacrity (IRE) 33-1 (10-9) Jumped right, tracked leaders, bumped 5th, weakened after next, tailed off, 6th of 10, well behind My Brother Sylvest (10-12) at Stratford 2m nov hdl (4) gf in Sep '10.
All Guns Firing (IRE) 40-1 (9-7) Led, pushed along 7f out, headed 4f out, soon weakened, 5th of 6, 24l behind Stand Guard (9-12) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f sell stks (6) pol in Aug (flat).
Numen (IRE) 11-2 (11-12) Held up in last, not fluent 8th, headway 9th, went 2nd after 3 out, challenging when not fluent 2 out, soon led, clear last, ridden out, won at Hereford 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in Aug beating Bathwick Quest (11-9) by 9l, 5 ran.
Quix 50-1 (11-3) Keen in touch, ridden halfway, soon behind, tailed off, 15th of 17, well behind Shuil Royale (11-10) at Wincanton 2m NH flat (6) gs in Feb.
Shallow Bay 11-2 (9-8) Led, pushed along and headed 4f out, chased leader until over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 8th of 11, 15l behind Sour Mash (9-7) at Newbury 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) gs in Sep (flat).
Abbi Jicaro 150-1 (8-12) Behind, driven along over 2f out, never on terms, 13th of 17, 18l behind Medicinal Compound (9-3) at Redcar 1m 2yo mdn aut (6) gf in Oct '09 (flat).
Tinagenic (FR) 16-1 (10-2) Held up in last trio, headway over 4f out, went modest 3rd under pressure over 2f out, 3rd of 8, 20l behind Tony Dinozzo (10-12) at Fontwell 2m 2f NH flat (6) gf in Jun.
Tweedledrum 6-1 (9-3) Slowly into stride, towards rear, soon pushed along and outpaced, headway over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, 4th of 14, 9l behind Easy Terms (8-13) at Carlisle 1m 3f hcp 0-80 (4) gs in Jun (flat).
Zaftil (IRE) 50-1 (10-7) Mid-division, weakened after 4th, pulled up before next, in a race won by Green Du Ciel (10-6) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f 4yo mdn stks (5) gs in Aug, 14 ran.