led until not fluent 2nd, jumped right and mistake next, soon pulled up
prominent, mistake 9th, reminder next, not much room when slipped bend approaching 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off
prominent, led 2nd until 5th, with leader, hit 12th, ridden after 14th, switched right when hit last, stayed on towards finish
held up in rear, headway after 4th, led 6th, driven after 2 out, stayed on under pressure flat
tracked leaders, led 5th until next, slipped bend approaching 4 out, weakened before 3 out, tailed off
held up, slightly hampered 3rd, reminder after 5th, behind and struggling 10th, jumped right 12th, jumped right and mistake next, soon pulled up
chased leaders, mistake 1st, hampered 3rd, soon lost place, behind 10th, rallied after 14th, chased winner last until stayed on same pace flat
There has to be some doubt as to whether ARNOLD LAYNE will be able to return to somewhere near his best after injury and he has been beaten a long way on all three starts since his return but may be worth chancing here as he has come down a long way in the weights and is entitled to have needed both runs this season. Captain Smoothy finished a long way in front of him at Towcester and has obvious claims having made the frame on both previous visits here whilst Richard Johnson is a significant booking for Backfromthecongo who is capable of popping up if everything falls into place but the same can also be said of the four other runners that complete the field.
Petroupetrov (FR) 7-1 (11-6) Soon behind, reminders after 4th, lost touch 9th, tailed off, 6th of 7, well behind Victory Surge (11-1) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd.
Gothic Charm (IRE) 10-1 (11-12) Mid-division on outside, jumped slowly 1st, reminders after 4th, struggling before 9th, tailed off, 10th of 11, 45l behind Public Esteem (10-10) at Market Rasen 2m 6f 5yo nov hcp (4) gf in Jun.
Arnold Layne (IRE) 17-2 (11-6) Led, clear after 3rd, headed after 12th, weakened from 3 out, 5th of 9, 38l behind Ammunition (11-4) at Towcester 2m 6f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Oct.
Backfromthecongo (IRE) 18-1 (11-5) Hampered 2nd, pushed along in rear next, no chance after 14th, tailed off, 6th of 12, well behind Dunkelly Castle (11-12) at Worcester 2m 7f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Oct.
Shrewd Investor (IRE) 16-1 (11-8) Tracked leader, hit 6th, hit 8th, weakened from 5 out, 6th of 10, well behind Palos Conti (11-0) at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Oct.
Captain Smoothy 10-1 (10-0) Towards rear, mistake 2nd, headway when mistake and hampered 12th, went 3rd after 3 out, jumped right last 2, weakened flat, 3rd of 9, 16l behind Ammunition (11-4) at Towcester 2m 6f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Oct.
Hever Road (IRE) 10-1 (10-9) In touch until outpaced 14th, went modest 5th 16th, plugged on from 3 out, 5th of 7, 17l behind Chico Time (10-7) at Warwick 3m 2f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd.
