led 2nd, clear with two others until reduced lead 4th, ridden and joined 3 out, soon headed and weakened
keen led and clear with two others, headed 2nd, tracked leader until weakened passing omitted 5 out, behind when pulled up 3 out
led chasing group, closed 4 out, every chance 3 out, led soon after, ridden and ran on (only 8 fences jumped, all fences in back straight omitted)
clear with leaders, ridden and every chance 3 out, chased winner next, kept on one pace
in rear, headway and every chance 3 out, ridden next, kept on same pace
in rear, pushed along passing omitted 6 out, behind when pulled up last
MERCIAN PRINCE (NAP) struggled back over timber last week but had won a chase over 2m2f here before that. Amy Murphy’s charge gets the vote back over the larger obstacles today. Vision Des Flos burst a blood vessel attempting a longer trip at Wincanton last time having completed a double over today’s distance in September while Gortroe Joe faced a stiffer task at Market Rasen last month and better is expected back at this lower level. The remainder are hard to recommend on recent form though The Unit slides further down the weights.
Mercian Prince (IRE) 4-1 (11-9) Raced prominently, losing place and ridden before 3 out, plugged on one pace, 2nd of 6, 31l behind Quinta Do Mar (11-12) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Vision Des Flos (FR) 9-4fav (11-6) Prominent, led after 4th, headed 4 out, weakened very quickly before 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, at Wincanton 3m 3f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Gortroe Joe (IRE) 9-2jfav (10-9) Led, mistake 2nd, ridden and headed 3 out, weakened flat, 4th of 9, 16 3/4l behind Senior Citizen (10-13) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Broken Quest (IRE) 25-1 (11-2) Towards rear, headway chasing leaders 12th, ridden after 14th, weakened soon after, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out, at Lingfield 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Oct.
The Unit (IRE) 11-1 (11-12) Towards rear, pushed after 7th, midfield 4 out, never able to get competitive, 7th of 12, 27 3/4l behind Pookie Pekan (10-7) at Perth 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Jun.
Monty's Award (IRE) 18-1 (11-11) Raced in 5th out wide, lost place and behind at 10th, weakened 12th, never on terms after, tailed off, last of 7, dist behind Hamilton Dici (11-1) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Nov.
