tracked leaders, went 2nd 12th, challenged 3 out, ridden after next, stayed on under presure to lead narrowly flat, just held on near finish
led, hard pressed from 3 out, ridden after next, headed narrowly flat, rallied towards finish, just held
refused to race
chased leaders on outside, hit 3rd, lost place 11th, 5th and outpaced when blundered next, weakened 4 out, tailed off
tracked leader, hit 11th, soon ridden, lost place next, weakened 4 out, tailed off
chased leaders, lost place and towards rear when reminders after 7th, mistake 10th, weakened 4 out, tailed off
held up in rear, mistake 3rd, hampered 11th, outpaced when hit 4 out, soon weakened and pulled up
mid-division, mistake 8th, chased leaders when hit 10th, ridden and outpaced in 5th when fell next
mistake 2nd, mid-division, outpaced 10th, behind from next, tailed off
held up behind, hit 7th, headway and in touch 11th, chased leading pair next, outpaced 3 out, soon ridden, rallied last, kept on and every chance flat, no extra near finish
Safari Adventures was a fair third off this mark at Ayr earlier in the month and is a rare runner here for Lucinda Russell. He shouldn't be far away while Polyfast won over C&D last winter after a break and is another to consider. BIBLE LORD is now 12lb lower than his last winning mark, however, and has shown enough in his last two starts to suggest he still retains plenty of ability. He gets the vote ahead of Free World, who won a jumpers' bumper at Kempton last month and isn't badly treated on the pick of his form over fences. Ursis and Its Crucial are others for the short-list in another tricky puzzle for punters to solve.
Polyfast (FR) 8-1 (10-9) Mid-division, headway on outside 5th, hampered 9th, weakened next, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Grand Slam Hero (10-9) at Market Rasen 2m 6f listed hcp chs (1) gd in Jul, 16 ran.
Safari Adventures (IRE) 11-2 (11-12) Led and keen, ridden and headed after 2 out, mistake last, no extra and held in 3rd when eased last 75 yards, 3rd of 10, 6l behind Sagalyrique (11-9) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs.
The Snail 7-1 (10-7) Raced in rear, jumped right thrtoughout, never a factor, 5th of 6, 35l behind Moon Over Miami (11-12) at Ffos Las 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Nov.
Bible Lord (IRE) 8-1 (11-8) Led until 9th, remained prominent, jumped right 11th and 12th, led again next, headed 4 out, soon under pressure and one pace, 3rd of 12, 19l behind Royal Tune (11-6) at Ffos Las 2m 5f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Dec.
Free World (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Prominent, led over 10f out, ridden 2f out, clear final furlong, ran on well, won at Kempton 2m Nat Hunt Flat (5yo+) (AWT) (4) std in Dec beating Working Title (11-0) by 4 1/2l, 12 ran.
Ursis (FR) 5-1 (10-6) Tracked leaders, led 3 out, ridden clear flat, won at Market Rasen 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Nov beating Victorias Groom (11-7) by 9l, 6 ran.
Drybrook Bedouin 50-1 (12-0) Always behind, mistake and ridden 12th, fell last, in a race won by Roulez Cool (12-0) at Stratford 3m 4f hts chs (2) gf in May, 15 ran.
Jimbatai (IRE) 9-1 (10-13) Mid-division, progress to chase leaders halfway, mistake 13th, pushed along 4 out, weakened next, 5th of 11, 33l behind Summery Justice (11-9) at Bangor 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Nov.
Its Crucial (IRE) 5-2fav (10-3) Many mistakes, raced in 3rd from 4th, left chasing winner after 4 out, no impression before 2 out, 2nd of 6, 14l behind Mister McGoldrick (11-12) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Nov.
Cruchain (IRE) 10-3fav (11-2) With leader, led approaching when fell 6th, in a race won by If I Had Him (10-12) at Taunton 2m 1f sell hdl (5) gd in Nov, 12 ran.
