took keen hold, always prominent, jumped right throughout, led 6th, hard ridden when hit last, kept on under pressure
tracked leaders, ridden 11th, weakened next, moderate 4th
held up in rear, mistake 4th, chased leaders halfway, driven to challenge after 2 out, hampered last, no extra flat
in touch, lost place 6th, mistake 9th, not fluent 12th, soon weakened
held up in rear, headway 8th, went 2nd after next, driven to challenge 3 out, soon under pressure, kept on same pace
led until 6th, blundered and unseated rider 8th
Pete The Feat's recent form figures don't offer much in the way of encouragement but he was in superb form at this time a year ago, completing a five-timer. He's been stepped up in grade subsequently and found wanting but he's well up to this level and will make a bold bid to defy his big weight. Eleazar is a strong stayer who arrives in fine shape having gained his 11th career victory over this track and trip in October. He likes dry ground so should go well with his 7lb rise virtually wiped out by Matt Crawley's claim. Financial Climate gained his first success over fences at Wincanton in May and was in touch when reappearing at Stratford in October but it's ON TREND who is handed the vote. Nick Gifford's charge landed a Class 2 handicap at Sandown in March and has subsequently been competing at a much higher level than this.
Pete The Feat (IRE) 5-1 (11-1) Chased leader, led 5th, hit 10th, headed 12th, with leader, hit 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up, in a race won by Midnight Appeal (10-10) at Bangor 3m hcp chs 0-150 (2) hvy in Nov, 9 ran.
On Trend (IRE) 40-1 (10-3) Mid-division, ridden to chase leaders 4 out, weakened 2 out, 7th of 13, 24l behind Alvarado (10-0) at Cheltenham 3m 3f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gd in Nov.
Firm Order (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Held up, jumped slowly 2nd, headway approaching 12th, went 2nd 14th, not fluent next, reached for 4 out, mistake 3 out, dropped to 3rd and no impression when mistake last, no extra flat, 4th of 7, 10l behind Fine Parchment (11-5) at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Nov.
Eleazar (GER) 16-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders in 3rd, led 4 out, clear 2 out, kept on well, won at Fontwell 3m 2f (4) gd in Oct beating Font (11-0) by 4l, 8 ran.
Financial Climate (IRE) 10-1 (10-12) Mid-division, hit 3rd, hampered 4th, fell heavily 6th, in a race won by Midnight Prayer (11-3) at Stratford 2m 7f nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Oct, 10 ran.
Curtain Razer (IRE) 50-1 (10-12) Led until 7th, ridden and beaten after 3 out, weakened before next, 5th of 8, 33l behind Junction Fourteen (10-12) at Fontwell 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
