led 2nd, ridden approaching last, kept on until headed and no extra near finish
tracked leaders, 4 lengths 4th and outpaced when blundered and unseated rider 3 out
not fluent, held up but in touch, outpaced 2 out, soon ridden, hung left under pressure flat, stayed on to lead near finish
led to 2nd, tracked leader, effort after 2 out, every chance when mistake last, ridden and kept on flat
Nonrunner
The Reverend was an impressive winner last time out and can follow up this afternoon at the expense of See You There and Habitual Dancer. Howard Johnson's lightly raced six-year-old has made a terrific start to his chasing career. He followed up a good second to One Sniff with an emphatic victory at Wetherby. Over the same trip today and on ground that suits he will be hard to beat. See You There also hit winning form last time out, just getting the better of Twelve Paces over course and distance. He doesn't have the scope of the selection but should still be involved in the finish. Habitual Dancer is not the most consistent of performers but has a squeak on the pick of last season's form. Meanwhile Laertes is expected to step up on his seasonal return. However The Reverend won with such authority last time he has to be followed again.
The Reverend (IRE) Evensfav (11-2) Tracked leader, led 12th, clear 3 out, easily, won at Wetherby 3m 1f beg chs (4) sft in Nov beating Supreme's Legacy (11-2) by 10l, 8 ran.
Habitual Dancer 25-1 (10-11) Led until after 1st, tracked leader, lost place approaching 8th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Refinement (10-12) at Aintree 3m lst hcp hdl (1) gs in Apr, 21 ran.
Laertes 14-1 (11-12) In touch, hampered 9th, hit 12th, kept on from 2 out, never troubled leaders, 3rd of 7, 19l behind Cloudless Dawn (11-2) at Kelso 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Nov.
Corbie Lynn 66-1 (10-7) With leader until 9th, weakened from 11th, 8th of 9, well behind According To John (11-0) at Carlisle 2m 4f nov chs (3) hvy in Nov.
See You There (IRE) 7-2 (10-13) Tracked leader, led 11th, headed 3 out, rallied to lead approaching last, stayed on, won at Hexham 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Nov beating Twelve Paces (11-12) by a nk, 4 ran.
