held up, mistakes 6th and 8th, headway 10th, chased winner after 3 out, edged right when no impression flat
not jump well, soon well behind, tailed off
held up well in rear, pecked 6th, jumped left next, headway 10th, jumped left 12th, 5th and in touch when bad mistake and unseated rider 4 out
prominent, bumped 12th, ridden after 4 out, weakened last
held up, closed 10th, mistake 12th, mistake 4 out, soon outpaced, blundered 2 out, went modest 4th before last
led 2nd, clear last, stayed on well
led to 2nd, chased winner until after 3 out, weakened 2 out
chased leaders, hit 7th, lost place after 9th, weakened approaching 12th, pulled up before 4 out
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
FLEMISH INVADER is narrowly preferred here to Chapel Flowers, I'm A Legend and Pickamus in yet another competitive race. The selection bounced back to form at Ludlow last time out, filling third spot behind The Snail. His hurdling form suggests that he should have no problem with this better ground and as he gains experience he can break his duck over fences. I'm A Legend is visored for the first time, despite winning last time out, whilst runner-up King Brex has no pull in the weights for that neck defeat. Quicker ground suits Chapel Flowers as he tends to race keenly, Captain Tidds is consistent but looks high enough in the weights, whilst Approved Force likes going right-handed but he has stamina issues over this trip. Pickamus is likely to make up into a nice chaser so any market support on this debut over fences would scream at a bold show, whilst Crow Spinney is bred for fences and along with Sarde needs a market check now racing over the bigger obstacles. Not an easy puzzle to solve, however we are happy to side with Flemish Invader.
Approved Force (USA) 9-2 (11-1) Not always fluent, hit 1st, held up last, driven into modest 4th 3 out, went 3rd flat, 3rd of 5, 15l behind Pocket Aces (11-1) at Folkestone 2m 5f nov ch 0-125 (3) gs in Nov.
Bobby Gee 14-1 (10-6) Chased leaders, mistake 6th, well there when fell 10th, in a race won by Hey Big Spender (11-12) at Newbury 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Nov, 14 ran.
Captain Tidds (IRE) 7-1 (11-9) Held up well in rear, good headway approaching 3 out to chase winner, soon ridden, stayed on towards finish, 2nd of 10, 1l behind Senor Shane (10-7) at Lingfield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy.
Flemish Invader (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) With leader, led 6th to 8th, led 10th to 13th, ridden and edged left after 3 out, hung right approaching last, lost 2nd last, no extra flat, 3rd of 7, 4 1/2l behind The Snail (10-11) at Ludlow 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft.
I'm A Legend 2-1fav (11-0) Tracked leaders, went 2nd at the 7th, ridden approaching last, led towards finish (no time taken), won at Taunton 2m nov chs 0-115 (4) gs in Nov beating King Brex (11-0) by nk, 4 ran.
Pickamus (FR) 11-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, went 2nd after 4 out, challenged next, kept on from last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 11, 6l behind Zanir (11-5) at Leicester 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Nov.
Quick Fix (IRE) 22-1 (11-7) Tracked leading pair, ridden and weakened approaching 4 out, pulled up next, in a race won by Bubble Boy (11-4) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd, 11 ran.
Crow Spinney 40-1 (11-4) Held up, weakened approaching 3 out, 13th of 15, well behind Je Ne Sais Plus (11-5) at Doncaster 2m 3f Mares Handicap Hurdle (0-115) (3yo+) (4) gd.
Chapel Flowers (IRE) 11-2 (11-1) Held up in touch, chased winner after 4 out, every chance 2 out, fluent last, lost 2nd flat, 3rd of 10, 4l behind Double Mead (11-12) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf.
King Brex (DEN) 6-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders in rear, mistake 3rd, ridden approaching 2 out, stayed on well flat, took 2nd towards finish, 2nd of 4, nk behind I'm A Legend (11-0) at Taunton 2m nov chs 0-115 (4) gs in Nov.
Lahib The Fifth (IRE) 6-1 (11-9) Held up, badly hampered 10th and unseated rider, in a race won by Dar Es Salaam (11-6) at Musselburgh 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Nov, 13 ran.
Sarde (FR) 9-2 (11-4) Prominent, pushed along approaching 4 out, weakened approaching 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Dance Island (10-1) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Nov, 10 ran.
Widely Accepted (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) Jumped right and not fluent, always behind, lost touch 8th, 4th of 5, 36l behind Incorporation (10-5) at Haydock 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Oct.
