led until narrowly headed 4 out, shaken up briefly and back upsides when left alone 3 out
held up in 3rd until tracked winner from 3rd, challenged 6th, not fluent next, slight lead 4 out until joined and fell heavily 3 out
chased winner to 3rd, reminder after 7th, pecked 10th, weakened after next, pulled up before 4 out
Nonrunner
Disappointingly just the four runners go to post for this novices' chase and with Grey Dasler looking pretty moderate, the finish should be fought out by the other three with the vote going to THE POLOMOCHE over Sunnyhillboy and Cracboumwiz. The last mentioned was pulled up on his belated reappearance at Taunton last month but Alan King has his runners in much better form now so the likelihood is that the 10-year-old will do better today. Jonjo O'Neill's Sunnyhillboy was similarly rated over hurdles and won well enough at Lingfield two outings ago over fences, although he did not run to that level of form at Newbury subsequently, although that was in a better race. The vote then goes the way of Nicky Henderson's The Polomoche, who bounced back to form over hurdles when landing a handicap at Ayr on his final start and looked a useful recruit to the chasing ranks when successful at Fakenham on his reappearance in November; he can win again.
The Polomoche (IRE) 1-4fav (11-1) Led to before 12th, tracked leader, challenged 2 out, ridden to lead again narrowly last, stayed on well under pressure flat, won at Fakenham 2m 5f beg chs (4) gs in Nov beating Teddy's Reflection (11-1) by 3/4l, 6 ran.
Cracboumwiz (FR) 9-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, outpaced 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up before next, in a race won by Pocket Aces (11-6) at Taunton 2m 3f nov chs (3) sft in Dec, 8 ran.
Grey Dasler (IRE) 40-1 (10-0) Prominent, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out, mistake last, tailed off, 14th of 15, well behind Victory Surge (11-2) at Warwick 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Dec.
Sunnyhillboy (IRE) 7-1 (11-6) Not always fluent, in touch, slightly hampered 8th, headway to 3rd at 11th, weakened approaching 2 out, 5th of 7, 49l behind Take The Breeze (11-10) at Newbury 2m 2f nov chs (3) sft in Dec.
