tracked leaders, hit 6th, reminders, led 10th until 4 out, soon weakened
tracked leader, blundered 8th, led 4 out, ridden and narrowly headed 2 out, remained with every chance, no extra near finish
led until 10th, soon behind
ridden after 7th, always behind, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
held up, headway after 4 out, effort nex, hit 2 out, weakened
virtually refused to race, pulled up before 1st
held up, hit 2nd, headway after 10th to join leaders next, ridden to take narrow advantage 2 out, not fluent last, headed near finish
close up, outpaced 4 out, stayed on under pressure from 2 out, rallied gamely flat, led near finish
Monzon has shown improved form of late, winning his last two starts, but the eight-year-old has a career high mark to defy and he may have to settle for minor honours with preference for LIBERTY BEN, who gets the verdict over Mandingo Chief. The last mentioned was well beaten on his reappearance at Wetherby last month but Brendan Powell's gelding should be all the better for that run and he has to be considered. Iris's Prince has been running consistently well of late but may be a shade high in the weights at present, while Nagam has been pulled up in his last two starts and is easily discounted. Of more interest may be recent Fontwell winner Neutrino, who ran well in defeat at Ludlow last time. Preference though is for Liberty Ben, who lacks a recent run but he has solid claims on the form he was showing at the back end of last season and he looks worth chancing at the likely odds. (Nick Millard)
Mandingo Chief (IRE) 18-1 (10-12) In touch, outpaced 5 out, 4th of 10, 17l behind Ellerslie George (10-10) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) frm in Oct.
Liberty Ben (IRE) 5-1 (11-9) In touch, reminder 8th, ridden 12th, soon weakened, 5th of 9, 35l behind John Diamond (11-6) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd.
Alam (USA) 50-1 (10-7) Led until 8th, chased winner until weakened approaching 5 out, 13th of 15, well behind Super Nick (11-2) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Oct.
Neutrino 8-1 (11-1) In touch, ridden to chase leaders 15th, faded flat, 5th of 11, 7l behind De Soto (11-12) at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in Oct.
Monzon (FR) 4-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, pushed along approaching 3 out, challenged last, soon ridden, led towards finish, won at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Oct beating Pan The Man (11-11) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Love Angel (USA) 20-1 (11-3) Held up, lost touch 9th, tailed off, 4th of 8, well behind Master Medic (11-3) at Fontwell 2m 4f nov chs (4) gd in Oct.
Iris's Prince 1-3fav (12-7) (cp) a.p; led app 14; clr 2 out; easy, won at Bonvilston 3m ptp gd in Jun beating Twilight Dancer (11-7) by 8l, 4 ran.
Nagam (FR) 8-1 (11-0) In rear, reminder after 11th, weakened 13th, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Radnor Lad (11-0) at Towcester 3m hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Apr, 10 ran.
