jumped right at times, led, mistake 3rd, headed 7th, tracked winner, ridden 3 out, held when blundered and fell last
tracked leader, led 7th, ridden approaching last, stayed on
tracked leaders, mistake 4th, ridden and outpaced 4 out, staying on approaching last when left 3rd
reluctant to start, soon tailed off until pulled up after 7th
tracked leaders, ridden 4 out, staying on approaching last when left 2nd, stayed on towards finish
The veteran BERTENBAR hasn't had too much racing for his age and completed a Fontwell hat-trick in April, all in races at a slightly lower grade than this. He's up 5lb but looks good enough and can take care of Slidecheck, another who completed a hat-trick earlier in the year but has been unable to cope with his new mark. Mercian King showed his first real sign of form since arriving from France on this track last time but will probably need to do more while That's The Deal hasn't won for well over three years and is just as likely to fail to get round. Marky Bob would have a chance if consenting to start but he's become reluctant to jump off.
Bertenbar 3-1 (11-12) Led after 1st, not fluent 2nd or 9th, in command when mistake 2 out, 10 lengths ahead last, all out, won at Fontwell 2m 1f hcp (5) hvy in Apr beating Withy Mills (10-6) by 2 1/4l, 5 ran.
Mercian King (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) Keen, tracked leaders, ridden and effort 2 out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 5, 7 1/4l behind Salto Chisco (11-12) at Fakenham 2m hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Slidecheck (IRE) 5-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, mistake 5 out, soon lost place, rallied 2 out, kept on well closing stages, never a threat, 4th of 9, 25l behind Maizy Missile (10-3) at Newton Abbot 2m hcp (4) gs in Jun.
Marky Bob (IRE) 25-1 (11-7) Refused to race, at Newton Abbot 2m 6f hcp (4) gd in Sep.
That's The Deal (IRE) 20-1 (10-0) Held up in touch, headway to chase leaders 3 out, never able to challenge, 3rd of 9, 2l behind Jackthejourneyman (11-9) at Huntingdon 2m hcp (4) gd in Oct.
