chased leader, always prominent, led approaching 12th, idled approaching 2 out, idled again well before last, driven out
prominent, led 7th, headed next, ridden after 3 out, no extra flat
held up in rear, hampered 4th, hit 7th, reminders after next, progress after 10th, weakened 14th, pulled up before next
in touch, not fluent 10th, weakened after 14th, tailed off when pulled up after 4 out
held up towards rear, not fluent 14th, weakened next, tailed off when pulled up after 4 out
held up towards rear, mistake 14th, headway next, disputing 2nd 3 out, weakened last
jumped right and moderately, in touch, lost place 4th, hit 8th, losing touch 10th, tailed off when pulled up before 15th
held up towards rear, not fluent 2nd, headway 4th, ridden along before 14th, carrying head awkwardly from 2 out, stayed on to take 2nd last, not trouble winner
led to 7th, led next, headed approaching 12th, outpaced 4 out, stayed on approaching last
in rear, mistake 12th, behind from 13th, tailed off when pulled up before 15th
It is hard to be too confident about anything in this handicap chase but we will nominate SHIFTING ALLIANCE to get the better of Weather Permitting and Jolejoker. The selection chased home a useful yardstick in National Petition last time out and if he can reproduce that form here then it should be good enough to see him get his head in front. He will also go on the ground, but he is not the most consistent which is a slight concern. Weather Permitting is interesting now that he goes handicapping as David Pipe's 6-year-old will go on the ground and he remains unexposed. Richard Lee's Jolejoker will relish the ground and the form of his last run at Chepstow does have a rock solid look to it. Adare Prince is another who could go well granted a clear round of jumping, but for the winner we will stick with Shifting Alliance.
Adare Prince (IRE) 5-1 (10-9) In touch, headway 14th to chase leaders, ridden and weakened 5 out, pulled up before next pulled up 4 out in race won by Nicto De Beauchene (10-7) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Dec, 11 ran.
Shifting Alliance (IRE) 7-1 (10-3) Led from 3rd, ridden 3 out, headed 2 out, rallied towards finish, 2nd of 11, 3/4l behind National Petition (9-12) at Hereford 3m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Dec.
Jolejoker 9-2 (11-7) Tracked leader, hit 5 out, soon ridden, mistake next, every chance 2 out, no extra from last, 4th of 11, 7l behind Notabotheronme (11-1) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-110 (4) hvy in Dec.
Weather Permitting (IRE) 11-4 (11-0) Mid-division, headway 6th, effort 3 out, soon weakened, left 4th next, 4th of 10, 28l behind Herons well (11-0) at N Abbot 2m 3f nh mdn hdl (4) gf in May.
Keltic Moon (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) In touch, hampered 6th, weakened 9th, no chance when pulled up 2 out in race won by Zanzibar Boy (11-4) at Towcester 2m 3f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs in Dec, 13 ran.
Benitez (IRE) 9-2 (11-1) Prominent, went 2nd 6th, led 3 out, headed and left close 2nd 2 out, weakened flat, 5th of 12, 12l behind Laharna (10-7) at Huntingdon 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Dec.
Job One (FR) 16-1 (11-4) Mid-division, ridden and weakened 11th, 8th of 15, well behind Solid As A Rock (10-2) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Dec.
Brumous (IRE) 9-4fav (10-8) Held up, lost place 8th, hampered 9th, ridden 3 out, plugged on, 4th of 6, 29l behind Captain Aubrey (11-11) at Towcester 2m 6f hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Nov.
Follow The Flow (IRE) 10-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, reminders 9th, weakened 11th, 5th of 9, 35l behind National Petition (11-0) at Towcester 3m chs 0-90 (5) gs in Dec.
Hi Blue 200-1 (9-7) Towards rear, lost touch 9th and pulled up 5 out in race won by Supreme Keano (11-7) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy, 18 ran.
