jumped left, joined leaders 3rd, led 8th, hung left, ran out 11th
led to 7th, led again 12th, clear after 2 out, easily
mistake 7th, always towards rear
held up, mistake 9th, headway after 13th, weakened after next
with leaders until jumped left 2nd, lost place 6th, headway approaching 14th, ridden to go 2nd next, one pace from 2 out
prominent, led 7th to 8th, left in lead 11th, headed next, weakened after 13th
in touch, hit 15th, one pace from 3 out
Anflora, Darnayson and Ashgreen are the three against the field in this tricky opener and preference is for Anflora. Darnayson is a consistent type and ran respectably at Cheltenham last time behind Nazimabad but has to sholder top weight and it is some time since he has won. Venetia Williams has her string in fine form and she saddles Ashgreen, who won first time out. He was only fifth next time and that was a touch disappointing. Anflora though gets the vote. Racing off bottom weight here, she has yet to finish outside the first three this season and ran well to be a length second at Chepstow last time. Anflora gets the vote.
Darnayson (IRE) 8-1 (11-1) Behind, headway 4 out, blundered and weakened next, 4th of 15, 24l behind Nazimabad (10-4) at Cheltenham 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-110 (D) gd in Oct.
Ashgreen 3-1 (11-11) In touch, went 2nd 12th, ridden after 14th, weakened approaching last, 5th of 14, 22l behind Mill Bank (10-11) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp chs 0-90 (F) gs in Oct.
Paddy The Optimist (IRE) 11-2 (10-6) Behind, mistake 3rd, effort 14th, soon weakened, 4th of 16, 35l behind Excellent Vibes (10-0) at Hereford 3m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (E) gf in Jun.
Faddad (USA) 25-1 (10-3) Held up, in touch, lost place 5th, hampered on bend after 5th, soon behind, 7th of 13, 44l behind Lindsay (11-2) at Hereford 2m hcp chs 0-100 (F) gs.
Armageddon 8-1 (10-3) Held up, hit 5th, weakened 4 out, blundered last, 8th of 11, 23l behind Yassar (10-2) at Uttoxeter 2m 5f hcp chs 0-110 (E) sft in Oct.
Ballybrophy (IRE) 14-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, not jump well, behind from 4th pulled up at the 7th in race won by Never Awol (9-13) at Towcester 2m 6f hcp chs 0-105 (E) sft, 8 ran.
Anflora 7-2 (10-1) Held up, steady headway 9th, mistake 4 out, stayed on approaching 2 out, kept on under pressure flat, 2nd of 9, 1l behind Up The Pub (10-5) at Chepstow 3m nov hcp chs 0-105 (E) hvy.