chased leaders, led 5th, headed approaching 8th, soon behind, pulled up before last
held up towards rear, headway 10th, chasing leaders approaching last, weakened flat
prominent, chased leaders last, kept on flat
held up, weakened from 12th, tailed off approaching last
chased leaders, took closer order 5th, weakened after last
towards rear, hit 1st, behind when pulled up before 12th
held up, weakened from 3 out, tailed off
held up towards rear, mistake 1st, weakened from 14th, pulled up before last
held up in rear, fell 6th
held up, blundered 9th, tailed off from 12th
prominent early, jumped slowly 1st, soon behind, reminder 7th, weakened from 14th, pulled up before last
held up mid-division, headway 10th, led after last, hard ridden flat, headed towards finish
tracked leaders, led approaching 8th, jumped slow 9th, headed after last, no extra towards finish
led to 5th, chased leaders, went 2nd 2 out, hard ridden flat, stayed on towards finish
RED RATTLE is the tentative suggestion in a race where a number of the field are having their first run over fences. Recent winners Fine Parchment and Buffalo Bob may have more to offer and have to be feared. Red Rattle is stepping into new territory with regard to this trip but his pedigree offers hope that he'll have the stamina for this test. He showed improved form when making his chase debut at Exeter and may be able to build on the promise of that run. Buffalo Bob also has his stamina to prove as well as coping with a 9lb rise for his win at Uttoxeter but he won in good style and may be capable of matching the handicapper's assessment. Fine Parchment made quite hard work of winning at Lingfield but should have more to offer as a chaser and pleased connections last time. That pair both made winning debuts over fences and the likes of Pantalaimon, Might As Well, Reblis and Akarshan are bidding to emulate their achievements. The market may be informative but Henry Daly's half-brother to Alderburn is possibly the most interesting of the quartet now that he's got a run under his belt. Thai Vango has been relatively consistent but looks vulnerable to one of the less exposed runners as we take a chance with one of their number in Red Rattle.
Buffalo Bob (IRE) 7-2fav (10-9) Raced keenly, hampered 1st, headed to go prominent after 3rd, not fluent 6th, led 4 out, stayed on well, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Nov beating Soprano (11-0) by 5l, 13 ran.
Fine Parchment (IRE) 3-1fav (11-2) Tracked leaders and always going well, 2nd 13th, led next, made rest, kept on gamely when strongly pressed from 3 out (no official time), won at Lingfield 3m hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Nov beating Portrait Royale (10-0) by 3/4l, 10 ran.
Pantalaimon 8-1 (10-12) Close-up on outside, outpaced 4 out, fourth and beaten when mistake next, soon weakened, tailed off, 5th of 9, well behind Lord Generous (10-12) at Warwick 3m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Nov.
Digger Gets Lucky (IRE) 11-2 (11-0) Held up in rear, slipped on landing 8th and pulled up, in a race won by Sea Cadet (10-8) at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Nov, 9 ran.
Thai Vango (IRE) 2-1fav (10-9) Chased leaders, not fluent 2nd, went 2nd after 4 out, every chance approaching 2 out, no impression approaching last, 2nd of 6, 14l behind Catch The Perk (11-4) at Haydock 3m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Oct.
Akarshan (IRE) 18-1 (11-12) Held up, pushed along 4 out, tailed off, 12th of 16, well behind Wise Men Say (11-2) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Nov.
Might As Well 15-2 (11-3) Held up in rear, ridden 4 out, soon struggling, 12th of 15, well behind Jocheski (11-0) at Taunton 2m 3f 4yo Am hcp hdl (4) gd in Nov.
High Carol (IRE) 9-1 (10-12) Not fluent, always in rear, tailed off, 9th of 14, well behind The Great Alfie (11-2) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Nov.
Finmere (IRE) 20-1 (10-13) Mid-division, dropped rear 6th, behind when pulled up before last, in a race won by The Great Alfie (11-2) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Nov, 14 ran.
Red Rattle (IRE) 3-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, behind 9th, went modest 4th approaching 4 out, closed 3 out, went 2nd 2 out, every chance when not fluent last, soon edged right, held after, 2nd of 6, 3/4l behind Fighting Chance (11-12) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp 0-100 (4) sft in Nov.
Particle (IRE) 7-1 (11-10) Ran in snatches, mistakes 6th and 11th, disputing 2nd 4 out, weakned after 2 out, 3rd of 10, 14l behind The Walnut Tree (9-7) at Hereford 3m 1f hcp 0-100 (4) gd in Nov.
Reblis (FR) 20-1 (10-8) In touch, every chance approaching 2 out, beaten when carried slightly left between last 2, 4th of 11, 13l behind Scots Dragoon (10-13) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (3) gd in Nov.
Lord Appellare (IRE) 15-2 (11-9) Mid-division, headway 8th, led 10th, headed before 2 out, soon rallied, no extra flat, 2nd of 8, 1 1/2l behind PonchaTrain (10-13) at Folkestone 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft in Nov.
Absolute Shambles 15-8fav (11-12) Chased leading pair until badly outpaced after 13th, rallied after 3 out, went 3rd at last, no chance with front pair, 3rd of 6, 10l behind Dusk (10-9) at Lingfield 3m nov hcp chs 0-90 (5) gs in Nov.
Rapid Increase (IRE) 11-2 (10-10) Held up, pushed along 4 out, weakened next, 5th of 6, 36l behind Bennynthejets (11-4) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Nov.
