held up, hit 5th, headway 10th, hit 13th, weakened 4 out
let to 14th, ridden and every chance 3 out, weakened 2 out
prominent to 10th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
chased leader after 5th, mistake 7th, led 14th, headed and mistake 3 out, soon weakened
always behind, fell 7th
mid-division, headway 7th, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened, behind when blundered 2 out, soon pulled up
always behind
held up, stumbled 8th, headway approaching 3 out, went 2nd 2 out, ridden approaching last, one pace flat
tracked leaders, led approaching 3 out, ran on well flat
in touch, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened, behind when mistake last
Mount Clerigo can make up for his latest lapse to account for the likes of Barrshan, Alderburn, the Dark Lord and Monte Vista. Mount Clerigo has a top jumping pedigree, being by Supreme Leader out of a Strong Gale mare, and he has already paid his way in bumpers and over hurdles. Victor Dartnell thinks a lot of him, and was not in the least surprised when he duly made a winning start to his chase career at Uttoxeter in November. He never really sparkled when eventually falling behind The Listener at Windsor next time, but is a slow maturing type who can only get better and better. Sure to have been well schooled since his fall, he can pay to follow here. Barrshan won point-to-points for Lynn Wilson when trained by Bill Warner last season, and this big individual as done nothing wrong in schooling at Seven Barrows, so should be noted if backed, while Alderburn bids to follow up a somewhat fortunate victory over shorter on this course last month. Monte Vista was in front when falling two out that day, and if staying upright, can turn the tables at least. The Dark Lord made hard work of scoring at Fakenham in October, and has since been beaten on a return to the Norfolk track. His jumping let him down than, and he will need to be foot perfect to give weight away to his rivals here, the best of whom can prove to be Mount Clerigo.
The Dark Lord (IRE) 9-4 (11-10) Tracked leader, mistake 9th, soon lost place, never dangerous after, 4th of 5, 20l behind Briery Fox (11-0) at Fakenham 3m nov chs (C) gd in Dec.
Alderburn 8-11fav (11-0) Mid-division, headway after 5th, joined leaders when hit 3 out, soon ridden, stayed on well flat to lead towards finish, won at Leicester 2m 4f beg chs (E) gd in Dec beating Alfie's Sun (11-0) by a nk, 10 ran.
Mount Clerigo (IRE) 4-1 (11-4) Held up, headway 11th, not pace of winner after 4 out, disputing 2nd when fell in race won by The Listener (11-10) at Windsor 2m 4f nov chs Grd 2 (A) gs in Dec, 7 ran.
Barrshan (IRE) 2-1 (12-0) won at Garthorpe 3m ptp gd in May beating Henry Pearson (12-0) by 8l, 4 ran.
Isotop (FR) 11-2 (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway 9th, mistake 11th, ridden to chase leaders 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 3rd of 12, 12l behind Alpine Slave (11-0) at Stratford 3m beg chs (D) gd in Apr '04.
Jonanaud 13-2 (10-7) Not fluent, behind, headway 11th, ridden when blundered 12th, behind when pulled up 5 out in race won by Balladeer (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 6f beg chs (E) sft in Dec, 9 ran.
Lookafterme (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Towards rear, headway 6f out, ridden to chase leaders 3f out, soon weakened, 7th of 14, 28l behind Supreme's Legacy (11-4) at Wetherby 2m nhf (H) sft in Nov.
Lord Gunnerslake (IRE) 33-1 (10-3) Held up towards rear, some headway approach 6th, behind from 7th, 8th of 9, 43l behind Marked Man (11-12) at Warwick 2m hcp chs 0-125 (D) sft in Dec.
Monte Vista (IRE) 9-2 (11-0) Held up, headway 6th, going easily when fell 2 out in race won by Alderburn (11-0) at Leicester 2m 4f beg chs (E) gd in Dec, 10 ran.
Mort De Rire (FR) (10-6) behind Magiful De La Vire (10-8) at Auteuil 2m 4f chs in Nov, 12 ran.
Sungates (IRE) 11-1 (11-0) Held up, hit 3rd, mistake and unseated rider at the 5th in race won by He's The Guv'nor (11-0) at Uttoxeter 3m beg chs (E) hvy in Dec, 7 ran.
