held up behind leaders, ridden after 9th, weakened after 3 out, tailed off
held up, ridden and headway to chase leader after 3 out, 11 lengths down 2 out, stayed on strongly approaching last, led near finish
prominent, led 4th, hit next, clear 9th, 12 lengths ahead 3 out, soon ridden, no extra when caught near finish
tracked leaders, hit 6th, went 2nd next, ridden approaching 9th, weakened before 3 out, tailed off
chased leaders early, behind and refused 9th
not fluent early, always towards rear, tailed off from 3 out
led until 4th, chased leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, kept on same pace, 3rd and held when stumbled last
Nobody Tells Me keeps hitting the woodwork since turning his attentions to fences and so Ellway Prospect is given the tentative vote. The selection gets weight from the rest of the field and Oliver Sherwood's mare is fancied to find the necessary improvement in order to score. With her weight allowance she isn't rated far off Dune Raider and with further improvement to come after just two starts over fences, a big run looks on the cards, especially with the drop in trip likely to suit. The aforementioned Dune Raider got rid of his jockey last time out and needs to improve his jumping, whilst The Walnut Tree is sure to be outclassed. Noble Ben is very lightly raced and looks sure to be prominent in the betting, whilst Hernando Cordobes makes his chase debut today and looks the sort to improve for it. Sea Map completes the field but is unlikely to prosper unless the others all stop, and so it is Ellway Propsect who gets the nod.
Dune Raider (USA) 28-1 (10-1) Tracked leaders, hit 8th, stumbled next, in rear when blundered and unseated rider 5 out in race won by Nation State (10-8) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hcp chs (3) gd, 12 ran.
Hermano Cordobes (IRE) 5-1 (11-1) Mid-division until lost place after 7th, soon ridden, staying on when hit 2 out, finished well but never a danger, 3rd of 16, 22l behind Deep Pockets (10-13) at Fontwell 2m 6f cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd.
Noble Ben (IRE) 10-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, ridden after 4 out, five lengths 2nd when blundered and unseated rider 3 out in race won by O'maley (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 6f beg chs (4) gd in Dec, 6 ran.
Nobody Tells Me (FR) Evensfav (11-0) Held up, headway when blundered 4 out, ridden 3 out, challenged last, hard ridden and ran on flat, just failed, 2nd of 5, 1/2l behind Mister Knight (11-0) at Taunton 2m 7f beg chs (4) gd in Feb.
Sea Map 5-1 (11-0) Chased leaders until weakened after 3 out, 6th of 12, 44l behind Music Celebre (11-6) at Fontwell 2m 4f nov sll hdl (5) gd.
The Walnut Tree (IRE) 7-1 (10-7) Towards rear, headway 9th, mistake 12th, ridden next, chased leaders 2 out, soon weakened and pulled up at the last in race won by Arceye (11-10) at Towcester 3m hcp chs (5) gs, 14 ran.
Ellway Prospect 10-3 (10-7) Led to 3rd, led 4th until approaching 6th, led 10th to 12th, struggling after 4 out, mistake 3 out, took 2nd flat, no chance with winner, 2nd of 5, 8l behind Montevideo (11-0) at Huntingdon 3m nov chs (4) sft in Mar.
