with winner, led 4 out, headed when mistake 3 out, soon ridden and beaten in 4th, plugged on flat and went 2nd towards finish
tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, went 2nd 2 out, no chance with winner, lost 2nd towards finish
made most, not fluent 5th, clear 2 out, stayed on
held up in last, closed from 4 out, went 2nd after 3 out until mistake 2 out, soon hanging left and beaten, went 3rd near finish
held up in 4th, closed 5th, ridden before 3 out, soon weakened
Bells 'n' Banjos won on fast ground at Southwell in March and is only lightly-raced. But conditions here have to be a worry after a lay-off and, at the likely odds, we'd rather take a chance on DECIMUS being on a going day. The top weight has won around here over fences and, though better over further, will handle today's going better than most. Willem has become disappointing while Degooch runs for the first time since May and tackles hurdles for the first time in 18 months. Larteta is also better over the larger obstacles.
Decimus (IRE) 5-1 (11-4) Behind, reminder after 4th, mistake 7th, soon struggling in rear, tailed off when pulled up after 8th, at Cartmel 3m 1f hcp (2) gd in Aug.
Willem (FR) 33-1 (11-12) Behind, headway into mid-division on inside 4th, fell 6th, at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Bells 'n' Banjos (IRE) 6-4fav (11-6) Tracked leading pair, went 2nd 5th, ridden and outpaced before the last, no chance with easy winner, 2nd of 5, 22l behind Carningli (11-6) at Stratford 2m 6f (4) gd in Apr.
Degooch (IRE) 10-3fav (11-12) Took keen hold tracking leading pair, went 2nd 6th, fell next, at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in May.
Larteta (FR) 5-4fav (11-9) Tracked leaders, ridden 4 out, outpaced 2 out, rallied approaching last, kept on flat, last of 5, 8 1/2l behind Marky Bob (11-9) at Fakenham 2m hcp (4) gs in Nov.
