held up, mistake 10th and 14th, soon ridden, headway 2 out, stayed on to take 2nd close home
mid-division, pushed along 10th, soon weakened, pulled up before 14th
chased leaders, led 11th, clear after 4 out, soon ridden, headed approaching 2 out, soon weakened
chased leaders, outpaced 4 out, rallied approaching 2 out, chased winner last until held towards finish
always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 14th
held up, mistake 10th, headway 14th, chased leader approaching 4 out, led approaching 2 out, hung left towards finish, all out
held up, headway 4 out, in 5th when blundered 3 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, hit 8th, led next, headed 11th, every chance and ridden when hit 2 out, weakened flat
held up in touch, weakened approaching 4 out
held up mid-division, hit 12th, ridden and soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
led to 9th, chased leader from 12th until weakened approaching 4 out
with leader until stumbled 6th, tracked leaders, reminders after 10th, weakened 13th
mid-division, pushed along and lost place from 3rd, pulled up before 11th
held up, weakened from 4 out, pulled up before last
Schuh Shine, Wild Cane Ridge and Gallant Approach appear the obvious protagonists and Schuh Shine gets the nod. The selection ran a solid race on seasonal reappearance and was guilty only of getting tired close home. The front-runner has relished the track in the past and looks to have been laid out with this race in mind. Wild Cane Ridge loves the mud and has to be respected. Lenny Lungo's charge landed odds-on favouritism at Ayr despite an obvious scare and if his jumping holds up, he has to be a player. Gallant Approach was fifth in a hot affair at the Punchestown Festival last season and could be anything. Lord Killenshanra finished fourth in the Royal and SunAlliance at Cheltenham and takes a drop in grade on this occasion. Ross Comm does not win often but should be considered as a lively each-way contender at a course where Sue Smith usually does well. Baron Windrush has few excuses about the ground although his form figures are truly appalling. Aristoxene has ability if his fencing does not compomise matters. Ebony Light is watched in the market at the scene of his greatest ever triumph. A fantastic renewal in terms of numbers and Schuh Shine is the selection.
Wild Cane Ridge (IRE) 4-5fav (10-4) Tracked leader, not fluent 11th, rallied 3 out, led after 2 out, soon clear, won at Ayr 2m 4f hcp chs (2) sft in Nov beating Mister McGoldrick (11-10) by 10l, 4 ran.
Lord Killeshanra (IRE) 25-1 (11-4) Always behind, last of 4, 41l behind Star De Mohaison (11-10) at Sandown 3m Grad Ch (2) gs.
Ross Comm 33-1 (11-0) Chased leaders until weakened 16th, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by State of Play (11-4) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) sft in Nov, 16 ran.
Gallant Approach (IRE) 7-2jt-fav (11-1) Tracked leader, led 5th, not fluent 3 out, kept on gamely when strongly pressed near finish, won at Newbury 2m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft in Nov beating No Full (10-11) by 1/2l, 10 ran.
Baron Windrush 20-1 (10-8) Towards rear, mistake 7th, blundered badly 16th, lost place and pulled up 5 out in race won by My Will (11-6) at Cheltenham 3m 3f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Nov, 12 ran.
Kandjar d'Allier (FR) 9-1 (10-13) Mid-division, driven 6th, weakened 2 out, 7th of 16, 14l behind Exotic Dancer (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Nov.
Haut de Gamme (FR) 14-1 (11-1) Always behind, 10th of 21, well behind Eurotrek (11-7) at Aintree 3m 2f lst hcp chs (1) gd in Nov.
Schuh Shine (IRE) 3-1 (11-12) Led to 4th, led 7th to 9th, led after 11th, headed 2 out, weakened last, 2nd of 8, 11l behind Longshanks (11-12) at Newbury 2m 6f hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy in Nov.
Undeniable 40-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, blundered 4 out, ridden and weakened next, 9th of 21, 38l behind Eurotrek (11-7) at Aintree 3m 2f lst hcp chs (1) gd in Nov.
Aristoxene (FR) 7-1 (11-4) Held up, headway 10th, outpaced 4 out, renewed effort 2 out, no impression, 4th of 10, 7l behind Darby Wall (11-1) at Cheltenham 3m amt hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Nov.
Strong Resolve (IRE) 11-4fav (11-3) Disputed lead to 10th, and again 12th, mistake 5 out, every chance 2 out, weakened approaching last, 3rd of 8, 11l behind Datito (10-0) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in Nov.
Ebony Light (IRE) 8-1 (11-6) Towards rear, early reminders, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up at the 10th in race won by Datito (10-0) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in Nov, 8 ran.
Rosie Redman (IRE) 16-1 (10-6) Held up, lost touch 14th, never dangerous, 4th of 8, well behind Ever Present (10-10) at Kelso 3m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs.
Barton Nic 20-1 (11-5) Towards rear, not fluent 2nd, weakened 11th and pulled up 3 out in race won by Wain Mountain (11-8) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft, 8 ran.
