made most until ridden 3 out, kept on same pace flat, just held on to 3rd
prominent, led 3 out, soon 4 lengths clear, ridden and ran on
close up, reminders 8th, outpaced 10th, rallied flat to nearly snatch 3rd
close up in rear, headway to chase winner after 3 out, jumped left next, kept on one pace
prominent, ridden 3 out, weakened last
It's difficult to have much confidence in any of these. Home For Tea has been placed recently but in testing ground and was well below par on a faster surface last time. Tophorn won at Worcester in October but a 16lb hike in the weights has proved beyond him in subsequent starts so a chance is taken on LITTLE JIMMY. He's been thereabouts of late and it could be his turn today back on the same mark as when scoring at Stratford early this year. Missionaire has bits of form that could see him figure ahead of Barenger.
Barenger (IRE) 16-1 (10-8) Last pair, struggling 10th, ridden and lost touch next, pulled up soon after, in a race won by Wilton Milan (11-4) at Newbury 2m 2f cond hcp chs (4yo+) (3) sft in Nov, 8 ran.
Topthorn 13-2 (11-0) Chased leaders, mistake 3rd, outpaced in 3rd after 3 out, kept on same pace, no chance with front pair, 3rd of 8, 23l behind Cango (11-10) at Catterick 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs.
Home For Tea 2-1fav (10-10) Tracked leaders, stumbled on landing and dropped to 4th 8th, left moderate 3rd next, 3rd of 5, 41l behind Midnight Chorister (11-5) at Fakenham 2m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft.
Missionaire (USA) 25-1 (10-11) Held up, headway when badly hampered 6th, no chance and well beaten after, 6th of 9, well behind Another Brandy (11-11) at Fontwell 2m 2f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf in Jun.
Little Jimmy 11-10fav (10-11) Tracked leaders in 4th went 2nd before 3 out, no chance with winner from 2 out, just held on for 2nd close home, 2nd of 5, 8l behind Sportsreport (10-10) at Lingfield 2m hcp 0-100 (5) hvy in Nov.
