tracked leader, led 10th, not fluent 12th, headed next, one pace 2 out, no extra flat
mid-division, not fluent 7th or 9th, outpaced from next, tailed off
mid-division, closed 4th, jumped left 7th, went 2nd soon after 3 out, led next, stayed on well
led until 10th, hit next and 13th, weakened after 3 out, tailed off
tracked leaders, not fluent 7th, went 2nd 11th, led 11th, headed 2 out, no extra last
tracked leaders, mistake 4th, lost place 6th, losing touch before 10th, pulled up after
in rear, not fluent and jumped left at times, mistake and behind from 6th, tailed off before 10th, pulled up after
held up, closed before 8th, hit 12th, coaxed into 2nd 2 out, shaken up after last, no impression
You can probably put a line through half of this field for one reason or another but Brass Tax has already proved himself over the larger obstacles, having dead-heated at Market Rasen before making Cedre Bleu pull out all the stops at Ascot. Prince Buster is exposed but has form in decent company while Asaid made a winning start over hurdles here and was quite highly tried after scoring at Towcester in February last year. MALT MASTER was a short-priced favourite on his chasing bow at Bangor but couldn't go with Tenor Nivernais after jumping the second-last alongside. He'll have learned from that and can go one better on this easier course.
Brass Tax (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Led, joined 3 out, strongly pressed from next, kept on gamely until headed and held final 125 yards, 2nd of 4, 1/2l behind Cedre Bleu (11-0) at Ascot 2m 5f grad ch (2) hvy in Dec.
Elite Beneficial (IRE) 8-1 (10-5) Last pair, went poor 3rd 3 out until 2 out, left in that position again last, tailed off, 3rd of 5, well behind Clash Duff (10-12) at Huntingdon 3m nov chs (3) sft in Jan '12.
Malt Master (IRE) 2-5fav (11-0) Not fluent, tracked leader, not fluent 7th, mistake and lost 2nd 4 out, mistake next, went 2nd again approaching 2 out, driven and no chance with winner between last 2, 2nd of 4, 8l behind Tenor Nivernais (10-11) at Bangor 2m 1f nov chs (4) sft in Dec.
Mr Muddle 14-1 (11-7) Led, ridden and headed before 3 out, soon weakened and pulled up, in a race won by Arkose (11-12) at Kempton 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (4) sft in Nov, 9 ran.
Prince Buster (FR) 10-1 (11-7) Tracked leader, took keen hold, ridden and weakened after 3 out, last of 7, 39l behind Johns Spirit (11-12) at Sandown 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Dec.
Radsoc De Sivola (FR) (11-3) 5th of 11, well behind Steeple D'or (11-3) at Meslay Du Maine(FR) 2m 5f chs hvy in Nov.
Ronnie Ronalde (IRE) 9-2 (11-7) Maded most, stumbled 4th, hit 3 out and next, headed before blundered last, weakened flat, 6th of 11, 12l behind Overlut (11-3) at Stratford 2m 1f hts chs (6) gd in Jun.
Asaid 13-2 (11-8) Held up, headway 5th, no extra 2 out, tailed off, 8th of 11, well behind Bear's Affair (11-7) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) sft in Dec.
