held up in last pair, good headway tracking leaders at 9th, 2nd travelling ok after 4 out, readily held and no impression from next, no chance with winner
chased leaders out wide, not fluent 7th, weakened 4 out
chased leader, mistake and bumped 1st, lost 2nd after 4th, reminders after next, behind and struggling after 9th, tailed off 12th, pulled up after next
jumped well, made all, came readily clear going easily 3 out, unchallenged
held up in rear, never a factor, tailed off
tended to jump right, chased leaders, went 2nd after 4th, pecked 12th, lost 2nd soon after 4 out, no extra in 3rd
unseated rider 1st
Quite a trappy novices' handicap chase but SOPRAN THOR jumped like an old hand when cruising home on fencing debut at Lingfield just over a week ago and Niall Houlihan is booked to negate 5lb of the incurred 7lb penalty. He faces different ground now but scored on good over timber on his previous start and looks a progressive type for a yard in form. Brief Ambition is an interesting recruit to fences and commands respect but Quick Draw is seen as the prime threat after shaping really nicely on his chasing bow when a respectable Huntingdon third to Your Darling and should progress. Nebuchadnezzar may improve for the switch to fences for Alan King.
Sopran Thor (FR) 7-2fav (11-10) Held up in mid-division, headway chasing leaders 5th, 2nd going well turning in, led approaching 3 out, went left and awkward next, soon clear, easily, won at Lingfield 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Oct beating Voyage De Retour (11-4) by 19l, 12 ran.
Nebuchadnezzar (FR) 12-1 (11-10) Close up, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, not fluent next, soon weakened, 5th of 7, 18 1/4l behind Thomas Todd (11-8) at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp (3) gs in May.
Quick Draw (IRE) 11-4 (11-5) Chased leaders, slow 10th, close up 3 out, weakened from 2 out, 3rd of 7, 4 1/4l behind Your Darling (11-6) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Brief Ambition 7-2jfav (11-3) Held up towards rear, raced keenly, not fluent 5th, headway on outside approaching 3 out, hung left thereafter, every chance 2 out, weakened flat, 5th of 9, 15 1/2l behind Bigbadmattie (10-7) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Oct.
Ballinsker (IRE) 11-1 (11-12) Slow 1st, in rear, outpaced 9th, last of 5, 18 3/4l behind Isolate (11-9) at Kempton 2m 2f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Morfee (IRE) 2-1 (11-0) Raced in 3rd, ridden to chase leader 2 out, ran on flat but never on terms, 2nd of 4, 3 1/4l behind Sending Love (11-7) at Fontwell 2m 6f (4) gf in Apr.
Fearless Fracas (IRE) 11-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, some headway 3 out, weakened next, 6th of 11, 37 3/4l behind Coeur Serein (12-0) at Newbury 3m hcp (4) gs in Mar.
