held up, improved to go 3rd and 13th, ridden 3 out, stayed on same pace from 2 out
in touch, ridden 12th, weakened 14th
chased leading pair, chased leader 5th until 13th, weakened next, pulled up 2 out
held up, not fluent until jump well 8th, hedway to chase leader 10th, led 2 out, soon ridden and clear approaching last
held up, improved 11th, ridden and weakened 14th
led, ridden 14th, headed 12th, kept on one pace
chased leader, hit 5th, and lost 2nd place, remained in touch, ridden 14th, weakened soon after 3 out
SCOTS DRAGOON could provide Nicky Henderson with another winner here; Berings Express and Backbord are the main dangers. The selection has got winning form at this track and he looked like adding to his tally last time before tiring. That run may have come a little too quickly for him as it was only 10 days after his win at Huntingdon, and now that he has been given a decent break he can regain the winning thread. Berings Express looked a little one-paced last time out so this step-up in trip should suit and he has to be respected. Backbord has been off the track since May so the market will be a guide to his chance. He shapes as though he will make a decent chaser, but this looks competitive and he will probably be sharper for the run. Hopkins and Orphelin Collonges are others worthy of a mention, but Scots Dragoon looks to have been found a good opportunity here and he is hard to oppose.
Berings Express (FR) 4-1 (11-4) Held up, headway 11th, chased winner briefly last, no extra, 3rd of 9, 16l behind Dream Garden (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 5f nov chs (3) sft in Oct.
Dasher Reilly (USA) 150-1 (11-4) Held up, pecked 4th, lost touch from 11th and pulled up at the 14th in race won by Ballyfitz (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m nov chs (2) sft, 7 ran.
Scots Dragoon 6-5fav (11-3) Chased leader, led 8th, mistake 10th, headed next, led 12th, blundered last, soon headed, ran on, 3rd of 5, 1 1/2l behind First Feerie (10-7) at Fakenham 2m 5f nov chs (3) gd in Oct.
Backbord (GER) 11-1 (11-8) Mid-division, reminders after 2nd, dropped rear 6th, driven after 3 out, stayed on under pressure approaching last, 5th of 17, 10l behind Mous Of Men (10-12) at Sandown 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gd in Apr.
Finnegans Rainbow 14-1 (10-10) Always well in rear, stayed on well from 2 out, ran on strongly to go 4th from last, 4th of 8, 19l behind Mount Cook (11-11) at Taunton 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-90 (5) gs.
Hopkins (IRE) 15-2 (11-4) Held up in last pair, hit 9th, reminder after 10th, soon lost touch with leading trio, tailed off from next, 5th of 7, well behind What A Friend (11-4) at Uttoxeter 3m beg chs (4) gs in Oct.
Orphelin Collonges (FR) 10-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, headway 3 out, soon ridden to challenge, kept on same pace approaching last, 4th of 6, 8l behind Hold Em (11-2) at Huntingdon 3m nov chs (3) gs.
