held up, mistake 6th, headway 8th, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, disputed lead last, one pace flat
tracked leaders, ridden and switched right to inside and close up approaching 2 out, mistake and fell
led and jumped left 1st and 6th, hit 9th, headed approaching last, one pace
jumped left throughout, ridden from 7th, effort 3 out, weakened 2 out, pulled up before last
held up, closer order 5th, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, weakening when mistake last
tracked leaders, headway 3 out, ridden to lead narrowly last, kept on
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Buckland Gold gets a tentative vote over Castle Frome and Lordington Lad. Buckland Gold has shaped well on each of his last two starts over hurdles here, finishing runner-up to Sobers and Sir Jimmy Shand respectively. He has not been a fluent jumper in the past and has only tackled fences twice before, but lines up off a more attractive mark than over timber, and as none of his rivals are in the same league as those that have beaten him so far this term, he should make a bold bid. Castle Frome battled on well when headed by Fight The Feeling at Ludlow, but he is still a maiden after 17 starts and is worth taking on again. Lordington Lad has fallen on two of his three attempts over fences, so cannot be backed with confidence, although Brendan Powell will no doubt sort him out in time. The rest are hard to fancy, including the five-year-old Maclean who has to give weight away to older rivals, and for the winner we return to Buckland Gold.
Maclean 20-1 (11-6) Mid-division, behind from 11th, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Corrib Drift (11-7) at Stratford 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf in Jul, 11 ran.
Buckland Gold (IRE) 13-2 (11-0) Tracked leading pair, mistake 2 out, soon went 2nd, no impression, 2nd of 8, 16l behind Sir Jimmy Shand (11-0) at Folkestone 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Nov.
Castle Frome (IRE) 8-1 (10-0) Led to 13th, led after 3 out, headed last, one pace flat, 2nd of 11, 2l behind Fight The Feeling (10-2) at Ludlow 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs.
Lordington Lad 5-1 (10-0) Jumped left, led to 3rd, stayed prominent, 2nd and two lengths down when fell 3 out in race won by Copper Bay (11-1) at Leicester 2m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd, 5 ran.
Lescer's Lad 33-1 (10-9) Mid-division, headway 5th, ridden after 9th, weakened 2 out, 4th of 20, 12l behind Classic Rock (10-8) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Nov.
Ballyrainey (IRE) 50-1 (10-0) Chased leaders, jumped right 1st and 2nd, mistake 6th, ridden after 9th, beaten when fell 2 out in race won by Coach Lane (11-12) at Lingfield 2m hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Nov, 5 ran.
Spider Boy 9-2 (9-10) Held up towards rear, never in contention, 5th of 12, 18l behind Opportunity Knocks (9-11) at Plumpton 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Oct.
Sett Aside 7-1 (9-11) In rear, ridden after 6th, plugged on at one pace, 5th of 12, 24l behind Gerrard (10-5) at Folkestone 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Nov.
