tracked leaders, took keen hold, ridden after 2 out, stayed on same pace
made all, clear approaching 2 out, stayed on well
held up in rear, headway 2 out, went 4th approaching last, never dangerous
tracked leaders, raced keenly, ridden 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
chased winner, ridden approaching 2 out, no impression
held up in rear, headway on outside 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
held up in rear, jumped left, ridden after 4th, weakened 3 out
tracked leaders, took keen hold, pushed along after 4th, weakened 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before last
Nonrunner
Matthew Salaman's Pocket Too is best in at the weights judged by official BHA ratings and is bound to be popular with backers following his last time out success over timber in a handicap hurdle at Worcester but that was back in July 2008 and preference is for another that has been off the course for a long time, CLASSIC DREAM, who gets the vote ahead of Mango Catcher. The last mentioned won a handicap chase for Rebecca Curtis at Hereford in April but has shown little since then including over hurdles in an admittedly better race than this at Cheltenham in October so he looks best watched. Caroline Keevil's Smokincanon ran better at Wincanton last time but this is tougher and of more interest may be Jordan's Light. Tim Pitt's gelding comes here fit from the flat but he has not won for over a year since landing a selling handicap at Kelso. Jeff Pearce's Space Pirate ran well enough in a seller at Towcester last month and is another to consider but it may be worth taking a chance with Classic Dream. Sean Curran's gelding was pulled up on his most recent start for Brendan Powell a year ago but he has claims on the pick of his form and he may be worth siding with in the hope that there is more to come for the change in stable.
Brigadore (USA) 8-1 (11-7) Close up, ridden to join leader 3 out, kept on one pace approaching next, 3rd of 10, 21l behind Posh Emily (11-5) at Taunton 2m 1f sll hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gd in Nov.
Classic Dream (GER) 14-1 (11-10) Prominent, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened, 11th of 13, well behind Olympian (11-0) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in Dec '08.
Jordan's Light (USA) 13-2 (11-12) Held up, outpaced 2 out, never able to challenge, 5th of 8, 27l behind Turbo Shandy (10-6) at Cartmel 2m 1f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Aug.
Mango Catcher (IRE) 20-1 (10-10) Behind, under pressure 8th, soon detached and never dangerous, 6th of 8, 20l behind Storm of Applause (10-11) at Ffos Las 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Nov.
Pocket Too 12-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, led approaching 3 out, ridden and hung left before 2 out, not fluent last, stayed on well flat, won at Worcester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gf in Jul '08 beating Nanga Parbat (11-2) by 3 1/2l, 9 ran.
Smokincanon 28-1 (10-9) Pulled hard, held up, hit 2nd, headway to chase leaders next, chased winner from 3 out, upsides, every chance from last, found no extra, held final 100 yards, 2nd of 8, 3/4l behind Campfire Tales (10-11) at Wincanton 2m nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs in Nov.
Space Pirate 14-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, hit 2nd and 5th, ridden after 3 out, every chance 2 out, soon wandered, not run on flat, 2nd of 7, 4l behind My Les (9-11) at Towcester 2m nov sll hdl (5) sft in Nov.
William Weazle 66-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, no chance after 3 out, tailed off, 6th of 7, 45l behind Bureaucrat (10-4) at Hereford 2m 4f sell (5) gd in Nov.
Tribiani (IRE) 7-1 (10-9) In rear, headway and in touch 3 out, ridden and outpaced next, never on terms, 5th of 9, 18l behind Ministerofinterior (11-0) at Hereford 2m 1f sll hdl (4-8yo) (5) gs in Nov.
