always in rear, struggling when mistake 14th, soon tailed off, pulled up before 3 out
chased leader until 9th, chased leaders, 2nd again briefly next, chased leaders, outpaced 14th, went poor 4th after 2 out
in touch, headway on inside chasing leaders 3rd, not fluent 5th, mistake 13th, driven into 2nd before 2 out, looked held when slightly hampered and switched left last, kept on same pace run-in
ran in snatches, chased leaders, 2nd 4 out until ridden approaching 2 out, 3rd and well held when blundered last
jumped soundly, made all, reminder after 12th, in command when went right last, stayed on well run-in
chased leaders, went 2nd 9th until 4 out, weakened and strugging in 4th when jumped badly left final 3, weakened into 5th after 2 out, tailed off
NonRunner
Strumble Head has won off today's mark in the past but isn't getting any younger. Golanova was second off today's mark at Plumpton last month while Shady Glen was only beaten half-a-length by a subsequent winner at Worcester in August, though is 6lb higher here. COWARDS CLOSE ran off 132 when pulled up in last season's Becher Chase. He's tumbled to a mark of 110 and should be taking advantage soon. Best Boy Barney is also thrown in on his best form, winning off 17lb higher over course and distance in April of last year, but he's a shadow of his former self.
Days Ahead (IRE) 7-2 (11-12) Tracked leader, outpaced after 8th, soon weakened, 4th of 5, dist behind Helium (11-3) at Worcester 2m hcp (4) gs in Oct.
Strumble Head (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) Led to after 6th, chased leader, pushed along from 13th, lost place and reminders after next, blundered 4 out, weakened after next, 6th of 7, 37 3/4l behind Belmount (11-9) at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp (3) gd in Sep.
Golanova 8-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, hit 1st, mistake and weakened 8th, soon behind, 6th of 7, 15 1/2l behind Bells Of Ailsworth (11-12) at Huntingdon 3m 1f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Cowards Close (IRE) 7-2 (10-6) Mid-division, lost place 5 out, soon behind, 7th of 9, 19 1/2l behind Katgary (11-6) at Perth 2m 4f hcp (3) gf in Jun.
Best Boy Barney (IRE) 7-2 (10-8) Tracked leaders, blundered badly 12th, not recover, tailed off, 4th of 6, dist behind Letbeso (11-12) at Southwell 3m hcp (4) gd in Aug.
Broughtons Bandit 33-1 (10-13) Chased leading pair, went 2nd 4th, led before 10th until after 3 out, outpaced approaching next, ridden and rallied into modest 3rd before the last, 3rd of 6, 15l behind Take A Bow (11-12) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp (4) gf in Sep.
Shady Glen (IRE) 6-1 (10-11) Held up in 4th, headway 10th, went 2nd 12th, led before 4 out, headed flat, stayed on, 2nd of 6, 1/2l behind Pawn Star (11-1) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp (4) gd in Aug.
