raced keenly in mid-division, headway after 4 out, chased leaders after next, ridden to lead 2nd last, strongly challenged, stayed on gamely
led, keen hold, headed 3 out, soon weakened
held up in touch, lost place before 3 out, pulled up before next
lost place after 2nd, soon well behind, pulled up before 4 out
held up mid-division, weakened 3 out, pulled up before next
behind, ridden before 5th, soon trailing, pulled up before 4 out
in touch, lost place before 4 out, pulled up approaching 2nd last
mid-division, slow 6th, weakened 3 out
mid-division, lost place before 4 out
behind, headway after 3 out, soon chasing leaders, every chance last, kept on well
chased leaders, effort after 3 out, weakening when bad mistake 2 out
mid-division, lost place 3rd, headway 3 out, chased leaders next, soon weakened
mid-division, mistake 5th, ridden 3 out, soon no impression
mid-division, headway after 3 out, soon chasing leaders, never able to challenge
held up in touch, hard driven to challenge after 3 out, soon weakened
always prominent, led 3 out, headed next, jumped right last, soon weakened
in touch, chased leaders 3 out, every chance next, weakened approaching last
mid-division, mistake 2nd, behind when pulled up 2 out
Nonrunner
ALDERLUCK will be suited by a return to the track and Nick Gifford's charge is preferred to Gee Dee Nen and Sangfroid in a typically competitive handicap. The selection ran well at Sandown in heavy ground last time out, finishing fourth to Ballyfitz. His previous second to Trenchant here in November reads well and this consistently progressive gelding can run another big race. If he is too high in the weights then it may pay to look towards the bottom of the handicap. The step up in trip will suit Clova Island, Fruity O' Rooney bounced back to form last time out but may need softer ground, whilst Sangfroid's two Cheltenham runs look solid form and the handicapper has left him on a mark of 122. Old-timer Alph has never won over this far, both Rathcor and Attorney General will appreciate the drop back in trip, whilst any market support for Forzy Origny would have to be taken seriously on his first run for the yard after 1147 days off the track. AP McCoy is back on Erzen and this unexposed four-year-old should appreciate the strong tempo, as should stablemate Busker Royal who has been flying over fences of late and could be well-treated off a mark of 126. A longer trip makes Gee Dee Nen a very interesting rival, however along with King Of Confusion (18lb higher mark in a better race) and Lake Legend (possibly high enough in the weights now), they are taken on with the selection Alderluck.
Lake Legend 7-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, ridden approaching last, led flat, driven out, won at Taunton 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Nov beating Cantabilly (10-4) by 3l, 8 ran.
Marodima (FR) 66-1 (11-5) Took keen hold, led 2nd, clear 4th, headed approaching 2 out, weakened approaching last, 6th of 18, 24l behind Lie Forrit (11-8) at Newbury 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gs in Nov.
Shore Thing (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Made most from 2nd, hard pressed 2 out, headed when not fluent last, ridden, kept on under pressure flat, held near finish, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Special Occasion (11-10) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft.
Alderluck (IRE) 5-2fav (9-10) Held up towards rear, headway before 6th, soon outpaced, headway after 3 out, never able to challenge, 4th of 10, 11l behind Ballyfitz (11-1) at Sandown 2m 6f hcp hdl (2) hvy.
Shatabdi (IRE) 12-1 (11-4) Held up, ridden and weakened approaching 4 out, pulled up soon after, in a race won by John Forbes (10-9) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) gs in Nov, 8 ran.
King of Confusion (IRE) 10-3 (11-12) Held up, headway over 3 out, went 2nd approaching last, led over 1f out, soon clear, won at Kelso 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) hvy in Nov beating Locked Inthepocket (10-6) by 16l, 8 ran.
De Soto 7-1 (10-5) Chased leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, ridden and weakened 2 out, 11th of 15, 46l behind Valley Ride (9-10) at Market Rasen 2m 6f listed hcp chs (1) gd in Sep.
I Hear A Symphony (IRE) 5-1 (11-9) Held up towards rear, headway after 7th, went 2nd after next, challenged on bit after 2 out, led last, ridden clear when edged left towards finish, won at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Nov beating Spanish Conquest (10-13) by 4 1/2l, 11 ran.
Gee Dee Nen 12-1 (10-10) Soon led, headed 3 out, weakened approaching next, 7th of 12, 34l behind Fairyland (10-8) at Newbury 2m listed hcp hdl 0-145 (1) gs in Nov.
Erzen (IRE) 12-1 (11-7) Mid-division, headway 6th, ridden after 3 out, weakening when not fluent 2 out, 13th of 17, 47l behind Wolf Moon (10-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Nov.
Busker Royal 4-7fav (11-6) Held up in rear but not far away, improved to chase leader 4 out, led soon after 3 out, ridden next, ran on flat, comfortably, won at Fakenham 3m nov chs (3) gd in Nov beating Nom de Guerre (11-0) by 9l, 5 ran.
Forzy Origny (FR) (10-6) 3rd of 10, 8l behind Or Noir De Somoza (10-6) at Auteuil(FR) 2m 6f chs Grd 1 (1) gd in Nov '06.
Attorney General (IRE) 12-1 (10-3) Prominent, chased leaders 3rd until 9th, weakened 2 out, 8th of 18, 39l behind Lie Forrit (11-8) at Newbury 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gs in Nov.
Alph 40-1 (10-11) Raced wide in touch, ridden and weakened before 2 out, 9th of 12, 23l behind Zabeel Palace (10-3) at Ascot 2m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Nov.
Sangfroid 8-1 (11-0) Prominent, ridden 2 out, stayed on under pressure flat, never able to challenge, 5th of 17, 3 1/2l behind Wolf Moon (10-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Nov.
Ffos Las Diamond (IRE) 11-1 (11-7) Towards rear, headway 4th, chased winner after 3 out, no impression when lost 2nd flat, faded, 5th of 24, 6l behind Lord Ragnar (11-1) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-110 (3) gs in Nov.
Fruity O'Rooney 9-1 (11-6) Led, ridden 2 out, mistake last, headed final strides, 2nd of 13, 1/2l behind Shadow Dancer (11-11) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd.
Clova Island 4-1 (10-11) Held up towards rear, pushed along approaching 3 out, headway approaching last, stayed on into 4th soon after last, kept on, 4th of 11, 11l behind Spirit River (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft.
Arctic Wings (IRE) 7-2 (10-5) Held up towards rear, headway to chase leaders approaching 6th, went 2nd approaching 3 out, one pace between last 2, 3rd of 8, 10l behind John Forbes (10-9) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) gs in Nov.
Rathcor 14-1 (10-0) Always towards rear, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Diamond Harry (11-12) at Haydock 3m 1f listed hcp hdl (1) sft in Nov, 16 ran.
