always prominent, hit 3 out, ridden to lead approaching next, headed approaching last, kept on same pace
chased leaders until after 6th
mid-division, headway 5th, led after 6th, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, weakened
mid-division, headway 7th, ridden to lead approaching last, kept on, ridden out
mid-division until 7th
chased leaders, ridden and every chance after 3 out, weakened next
chased leaders, left in lead 4th, headed after 6th, weakened 3 out
led until pulled up before 4th
mid-division until 7th
held up towards rear, headway approaching 7th, ridden after 3 out, went 2nd and mistake next, kept on same pace from last
mid-division, ridden after 6th, weakened next
held up, headway approaching 7th, ridden and every chance after 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before last
Football Crazy, Vivid Imagination and Come Bye are the three to focus on here, with Football Crazy taken to follow up a recent success. Come Bye enjoyed testing conditions last time to take a claimer, and he had earlier shown his liking for heavy ground at Folkestone. Any rain would help his cause. Vivid Imagination has been running without success over fences recently, but on his last hurdling start some twenty months ago, he ran well to be a good fifth in a competitive affair at Cheltenham. This represents a distinct drop in grade and he can go well. Football Crazy is looked after by Peter Bowen's schoolboy son and he is doing a good job judged on Football Crazy's success at Wetherby last time. He showed improved form that day and in the belief that he can re-produce that performance, Football Crazy gets the vote here.
Come Bye (IRE) 2-1jt-fav (10-1) Led, headed before 4 out, regained lead next, clear approaching 2 out, kept on well, won at Plumpton 2m clm hdl (5) sft beating Better Moment (10-5) by 11l, 7 ran.
Dunkerron 8-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened next, 6th of 10, 23l behind Ndola (10-9) at Fontwell 2m 2f sll hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Nov.
Red Sun 10-3 (10-10) Chased leaders, led approaching 2 out, driven clear from last, won at Market Rasen 2m 3f clm hdl (5) gs in Nov beating Storm Prince (11-2) by 7l, 10 ran.
Roaringwater (IRE) 11-2 (10-8) Held up, headway to lead 7th, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, left 2nd 2 out, weakened from last, 4th of 12, 8l behind Football Crazy (11-5) at Wetherby 2m 7f cnd clm hdl (5) gd in Nov.
Temper Lad (USA) 14-1 (10-12) Mid-division, weakened 4 out, 9th of 18, 21l behind Grave Doubts (10-12) at Towcester 2m sll hdl (5) gd in Nov.
Allegiance 50-1 (10-0) Always towards rear, 10th of 20, 35l behind Classic Rock (10-8) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Nov '06.
Axinit (GER) 7-1 (10-7) In touch, headway to chase leaders 3 out, joined leader last and hit, every chance flat when hung right, hit rails close home and just denied, 2nd of 10, shd behind Sninfia (10-0) at Chepstow 2m 4f cnd sll hdl (5) gs in Nov.
Better Moment (IRE) 7-2 (10-5) Chased winner 4th, led before 4 out, headed next, outpaced approaching 2 out, 2nd of 7, 11l behind Come Bye (10-1) at Plumpton 2m clm hdl (5) sft.
Football Crazy (IRE) 14-1 (11-5) Held up in touch, pushed along to chase leaders after 4 out, went 2nd after 3 out, led 2 out, soon left clear, edged left after last, all out, won at Wetherby 2m 7f cnd clm hdl (5) gd in Nov beating Totally Scottish (10-7) by a nk, 12 ran.
Gotontheluckyone (IRE) 100-1 (10-7) Held up, blundered badly and unseated rider at the 6th in race won by Desert Quest (11-0) at Taunton 2m beg chs (4) gf in Nov, 6 ran.
Kristoffersen 40-1 (9-10) Towards rear, ridden after 4th, tailed off from 3 out, 15th of 17, well behind Salut Saint Cloud (10-2) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) gd in May.
Salym (FR) 16-1 (11-10) Held up in touch, driven after 5th, weakened before 3 out, 9th of 18, 25l behind Mendosino (10-11) at Warwick 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs in Nov.
Vivid Imagination (IRE) 4-1 (10-13) Held up mid-division, not fluent 11th, headway 3 out, weakened before next, 5th of 9, 19l behind Otantique (11-12) at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Oct.
