held up in last trio, headway approaching 9th, went 2nd after 3 out, led before last, driven out
led, jumped right 4th, headed after 6th, led next, headed after 10th, no extra last
held up in last trio, headway 7th, weakened after 10th, pulled up before 3 out
held up in last trio, hit 7th, weakened 10th, tailed off
prominent, hit 2nd, not fluent 5th, led after 6th, headed next, hit 9th, mistake 10th, soon led again, mistake 2 out, headed approaching last, stayed on
prominent until 2nd, tracked leaders, mistake 7th, outpaced after next, soon struggling pulled up before 4 out
Tin Pot Man is best over much quicker ground than he'll face here and though Pacha D'Oudairies is up to this class he ran so poorly at Hereford last time that he's overlooked. FOREVER MY FRIEND didn't stay 3m on heavy going last time and though hardly the most consistent perfomer he has more scope than these rivals and is handed the vote. Winning point-to-pointer Kenaleck jumped badly on his only start over regulation fences but the veterans Michigan D'Isop and Rash Moment have seen better days though in the context of this race can't be dismissed, especially the latter, who is on a lower mark than when scoring here last March.
Tin Pot Man (IRE) 13-2 (11-9) Mid-division, mistake 6th, headway 8th, ridden and 4 lengths 3rd when fell 3 out, in a race won by Dancing Daffodil (10-5) at Ludlow 3m cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Nov, 9 ran.
Pacha D'Oudairies (FR) 16-1 (11-9) Chased winner until 10th, chased leading pair until 14th, weakened under pressure before 4 out, left poor 4th 3 out, tailed off, 4th of 7, well behind Ukrainian Star (11-11) at Hereford 3m 1f hcp 0-100 (5) hvy in Dec.
Forever My Friend (IRE) 12-1 (10-0) Held up in touch, headway to chase leaders 8th, went 3rd at 13th, weakened 4 out, 5th of 9, 19l behind Flying Award (11-5) at Exeter 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy.
Kenaleck (GER) 13-2 (11-4) Prominent until 3rd, tracked leaders, mistake 7th, not fluent 3 out, weakened before next, 6th of 10, 31l behind Royale Knight (11-1) at Plumpton 2m 5f cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Nov.
Michigan d'Isop (FR) 10-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, mistakes throughout, with leader 7th, weakened before 10th, pulled up before 5 out, in a race won by Red Law (9-12) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Jun, 8 ran.
Rash Moment (FR) 12-1 (10-2) Tracked leader until 4 out, blundered next, one pace, 4th of 5, 16l behind Well Refreshed (11-9) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp chs 0-100 (5) gs in Nov.
