led, mistake 1st, blundered and unseated rider next
in touch, mistake 7th, soon outpaced, rallied 9th, 4 lengths down when fell 3 out
started slowly, soon in touch, led 3rd, 6 lengths clear when blundered and unseated rider 6th
raced keenly in touch, left in lead 2nd, headed next, left in lead again 6th, headed 2 out, effort when not fluent last, ridden and rallied flat, just held
jumped right, in touch, challenged 7th, hit 3 out, every chance between last 2, ridden and no extra flat
held up, in touch when hit 4 out, led 2 out, ridden and held on flat
Dark Corner, Water Taxi and Smart Street look the three to concentrate on here and narrow preference is for Dark Corner. Nigel Twiston-Davies continues to send out the winners and he has another live chance here. Having finished second on his recent chasing debut, Dark Corner should be wiser this time around and should go well. High Commision and Monsieur are both potential improvers after recent runs to improve fitness, whilst Smart Street was a bit keen on his chasing debut but should be a threat today with the form looking solid. Water Taxi is consistent but is ultimately yet to win over fences, and whilst Open De L'Isle has claims having made a pleasing chasing debut last month, it is Dark Corner who can lead them home.
Dark Corner 3-1fav (11-2) Tracked leaders, smooth headway approaching 3 out, led approaching 2 out, ridden and headed last, no extra flat, 2nd of 11, 2 1/2l behind Donovan (10-1) at Perth 2m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Sept.
High Commission 28-1 (10-11) Behind, ridden 4 out, soon beaten, 7th of 16, 46l behind Snow's Ride (11-7) at Kelso 2m 6f cnd hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Oct.
Monsieur (FR) 7-1 (11-3) Raced keenly and led, headed 7th, outpaced 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 10, well behind Hobbs Hill (11-3) at Hexham 2m beg chs (4) gd in Oct.
Open de L'Isle (FR) 14-1 (10-13) Close up, every chance 3 out, weakened after next, 6th of 11, 10l behind Tous Chez (11-2) at Carlisle 2m nov chs (3) gd in Oct.
Smart Street 11-4 (10-13) Tracked leaders, ridden approaching last, kept on same pace, 3rd of 9, 4 1/2l behind Medison (11-2) at Kelso 2m 1f beg chs (4) gd in Oct.
Water Taxi 10-3 (11-1) Raced in 3rd, jumped left, niggled along, not fluent 7th, went 3rd between last 2, no chance with winner, 2nd of 4, 9l behind Battlecry (11-1) at Wetherby 2m beg chs (4) gf.
