behind, mistake 4 out, headway next, never on terms
mid-division, mistakes 3rd and 4th, soon lost place and beaten
mid-division, slow 3rd, mistake 6th, headway 3 out, never on terms
held up in touch, slow 1st, lost place 5th, soon beaten
tracked leaders, keen hold, under pressure and mistake 4 out, weakened before 2nd last
tracked leader, effort when mistake 2 out, rallied approaching last, stayed on well
chased leaders, jumped right throughout, under pressure when hampered and unseated rider 3 out
made all, pushed along and challenged approaching 2 out, stayed on well under pressure
held up mid-division, headway and mistake 4 out, soon ridden, never on terms
mid-division, chased leaders 5th, jumped right throughout, soon weakened
pulled hard towards rear, never dangerous
Nicky Henderson has won three of the last four renewals of this race and he has a strong candidate in KERADA who is preferred to Hellfire Club and Rushwee. The selection didn't go on quite as expected after making a winning start to her career but the level of form that she showed in defeat was fare. She returned to action with an impressive performance over hurdles at Huntingdon and could make up into a smart sort if she can build on that but she does drop back in trip and have softer ground to contend with. Hellfire Club was set to score readily when falling at the last at Taunton and has been progressing with each start over hurdles. The eventual winner of that race has boosted the form with a win and a second in two subsequent outings and he should make his presence felt. The Bonus Ball may prove capable of better whilst Lord Landen, Abey M'Boy, Spot The Ball and Fort Severn have shown ability at various stages of their careers. However, the biggest threat to the first two mentioned could come from Rushwee who went into many a notebook following his debut for this yard at Aintree. He had shown a smart level of form on his racecourse debut and will be of particular interest if there's market confidence behind him but Kerada gets the nod at this stage.
Abey M'Boy 16-1 (10-9) Held up, weakened 3 out, pulled up before next, in a race won by Zazamix (10-12) at Bangor 2m 1f nov hdl (4) sft in Dec, 11 ran.
Blazing Tommy 80-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, never dangerous, 8th of 14, well behind Oscar Whisky (11-0) at Newbury 2m mdn hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Cockney Prince (IRE) 9-4fav (11-2) Held up towards rear, pushed along 7f out, ridden over 6f out, no response, tailed off, 10th of 13, well behind Dingat (10-13) at Worcester 2m NH flat (6) gs in Oct.
Daaloob 14-1 (11-12) Jumped poorly in rear, tailed off 3rd, 12th of 13, well behind Empty Sky (11-1) at Ludlow 2m nov clm hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Fort Severn (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, blundered 5th, weakened from 8th, 7th of 12, well behind Quentin Collonges (11-5) at Huntingdon 3m 2f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Dec.
Hellfire Club 5-6fav (11-0) Tracked leader, led approaching 6th, going well and in command when fell last, in a race won by Ocean Transit (10-7) at Taunton 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) gs in Nov, 12 ran.
Just An Ace (IRE) 40-1 (11-4) Led in, hampered and whipped round start, reluctant to race, continued, soon tailed off, 14th of 16, well behind King Of Leon (11-4) at Ludlow 2m nhf (4) gs in Dec '08.
Kerada (FR) 5-2fav (10-5) Led, ridden and blundered 2 out, kept on from last, won at Huntingdon 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Dec beating Voramar Two (10-12) by 7l, 16 ran.
Spot The Ball (IRE) 10-3 (11-0) Took keen hold in rear, steady headway 5f out, pushed along 3f out, one pace and no impression final 2f, 5th of 13, 21l behind Adams Island (11-0) at Ffos Las 2m NH flat (6) gs in Dec.
The Bonus Ball (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) Held up, weakened from 6th, soon detached, pulled up soon after, in a race won by Kerada (10-5) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Dec, 16 ran.
Tribunel 100-1 (10-7) Always in rear, 8th of 13, 28l behind Makhzoon (10-12) at Leicester 2m cond nov hdl 4yo+ (4) hvy in Dec.
Lord Landen (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Held up, took keen hold, led after 5th, headed approaching 2 out, no extra from last, 4th of 14, 11l behind Larks Lad (10-12) at Taunton 2m 3f nov hdl (3) gs in Nov.
Rushwee (IRE) 50-1 (11-8) Held up in touch, pushed along 3 out, kept on same pace from next, took 3rd flat, 3rd of 12, 15l behind Sitting Tennant (11-8) at Aintree 2m mdn hdl (3) gs in Nov.
