held up in touch on inside, pushed along after 10th, struggling 12th, went modest 4th before 3 out until weakened 2 out
chased winner until 8th, chased leaders, weakened 12th, went poor 4th 2 out
chased leaders, went 2nd 8th until next, chased leading pair until approaching 4 out, weakened and struggling in 5th when pulled up before next
last pair, struggling in rear 11th, tailed off next, pulled up soon after
held up towards rear, headway on outside approaching 8th, 3rd approaching 4 out, driven into 2nd between last two, kept on same pace, no impression and went right last
chased leading pair, 2nd at 9th, pushed laong after 4 out, no impression when mistake 3 out, lost 2nd between last two, kept on run-in, no chance with winner
made all, travelling best before 3 out, clear next, ridden before the last, kept on gamely
held up last, blundered 3rd, never travelled after, pushed along and struggling 9th, soon pulled up
An interesting start to proceedings in which a chance is taken on the potentially well-treated JOSIES ORDERS. Jonjo O'Neill's seven-year-old hasn't show much in three starts over fences but his stable is in much better form nowadays and the gelding is thrown in on his form over hurdles. Comeonginger has had a break since failing to complete the hat-trick at Newbury. He's still at the right end of the handicap while Polisky could figure dropped in class. Roc D'Apsis gets little respite from the handicapper, however, and Quito Du Tresor's wins are few and far between.
Polisky (FR) 14-1 (9-7) Never travelled towards rear, mistakes 2nd and 7th, struggling in rear before 15th, tailed off, 8th of 9, well behind The Young Master (10-9) at Ascot 3m listed hcp chs (1) gs in Dec.
Flaming Gorge (IRE) 20-1 (11-6) Took keen hold, tracked leader until 2nd chased leaders, went 2nd again 6th until 12th, pushed along when not much room bend before 13th, weakened 15th, tailed off 3 out, pulled up before next, in a race won by Firm Order (11-2) at Sandown 3m amat hcap chs (3) sft in Dec, 6 ran.
Quito Du Tresor (FR) 16-1 (10-9) Towards rear, headway before 5 out, went 3rd before last, kept on same pace, 3rd of 8, 13l behind Ifandbutwhynot (11-4) at Musselburgh 2m hcp chs 0-140 (3) gd.
Citizenship 8-1 (10-3) Chased leading pair until not fluent and went right 5th, 3rd soon after until after 8th, pushed along and outpaced before 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off, last of 4, 35l behind Top Gamble (11-7) at Newbury 2m 1f nov chs (3) sft in Jan.
Cloudy Bob (IRE) 5-1 (10-12) Led until 5th, chased leader until 6th, chased leaders, 2nd again before 7th (water), lost 2nd before omitted 3 out, weakened into 4th when went badly right 2 out, 4th of 11, well behind Saint Raph (10-2) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-140 (3) hvy in Jan.
Roc D'Apsis (FR) 11-4fav (10-9) Held up towards rear, headway 5 out, ridden before 2 out, soon weakened, 4th of 7, 16l behind Robbie (11-12) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp chs 0-140 (3) sft in Dec.
Comeonginger (IRE) 3-1 (11-7) Led until 2nd, chased leader until approaching 6th, chased leaders, outpaced before 11th, rallied next, went 3rd under pressure and hung left before 3 out, one pace and held when blundered next, 3rd of 8, 16l behind Wilton Milan (11-4) at Newbury 2m 2f cond hcp chs (4yo+) (3) sft in Nov.
Josies Orders (IRE) 25-1 (11-5) Last pair, not fluent 6th, struggling and no chance from 13th, tailed off, last of 8, well behind Generous Ransom (11-6) at Sandown 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Dec.