led, ridden and headed after 2 out, weakened flat
mid-division, not fluent 10th, headway approaching 4 out, weakened 2 out
prominent, weakened after 11th, tailed off
towards rear, reminders after 7th, headway 4 out, hit 3 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, weakened approaching last
help up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, hit 3 out, stayed on same pace
held up, not fluent 2nd, headway approaching 6th, not fluent 8th, strong challenge last, held close home
tracked leaders, weakened 2 out
held up in rear, mistake 9th, well beaten approaching 4 out, tailed off
mid-division, lost place when mistake 10th, soon struggling
held up towards rear, hit 3rd, not fluent 8th, ridden approaching 4 out, never a factor
always prominent, led after 2 out, soon strongly pressed, in command close home
always in rear, well beaten approaching 4 out, virtually pulled up flat
In a tight handicap chase it may be prudent to side with those receiving weight and we do so by giving NOUN DE LA THINTE the vote, who should land a hat-trick by getting the better of Cybora while top-weight Double Mead bucks the trend and has claims. After following a win over timber with a commanding performance over fences last time the pick suggested that there was plenty more to come from her and we expect her to be a leading player off this mark. Cybora receives weight from all of her rivals and looks well treated on the pick of her form. Her latest defeat is forgiven after a mid-race blunder and if putting in a clear round she should feature strongly. Double Mead is a consistent sort who looks a better chaser than hurdler as he proved with his winning return over course and distance last month. He's up just the five pounds for that so is entitled to go well. Good Harvest is another at the bottom of the handicap with chances if getting his jumping together but with that not guaranteed we stick with Noun De La Thinte.
Double Mead 11-2 (11-12) Prominent, went 2nd 3rd, led next, not fluent 9th, edged left between last 2, not fluent last, stayed on well, won at Leicester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf beating Manmoon (11-1) by 3 1/2l, 10 ran.
Pamak D'airy (FR) 11-4fav (11-6) Prominent, led 4 out, kept on well from last, won at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Nov beating Et Maintenant (11-10) by 1 1/4l, 8 ran.
Nagam (FR) 7-1 (11-12) Prominent, effort 2 out, soon under pressure, one pace, 4th of 6, 12l behind Enroblim Trop (11-3) at Folkestone 3m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Nov.
Bermuda Pointe (IRE) 15-2 (10-7) Held up in touch, chased leaders 4 out, soon one pace, 3rd of 8, 12l behind Storm of Applause (10-11) at Ffos Las 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Nov.
Or d'Oudairies (FR) 12-1 (11-3) Held up in touch, led 2 out, headed flat, no extra, 4th of 11, 1 1/2l behind Newman Des Plages (11-2) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Nov.
Herecomestanley 25-1 (11-6) Held up in rear, in touch, pushed along approaching 4 out, soon beaten, 5th of 6, 18l behind Quattrocento (11-9) at Ffos Las 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs.
Shake The Barley (IRE) 25-1 (10-9) Mid-division, headway to challenge 12th, led soon after, narrowly headed last, stayed on same pace flat, 3rd of 15, 4 1/2l behind Nikos Extra (11-4) at Folkestone 2m 5f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Nov.
Phar Again (IRE) 17-2 (11-5) Prominent, went 2nd 5th, led 11th, headed approaching 2 out, hung left and weakened flat, 3rd of 6, 8l behind Bennynthejets (11-4) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Nov.
Maree Prince (IRE) 10-1 (11-4) Soon disputed lead, slight mistake 1st, headed approaching 7 out, 3rd next, dropped to moderate 6th 4 out, weakened and pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Rakamasi (9-7) at Thurles 2m 2f hcp chs 0-109 sft in Nov, 14 ran.
Aces Or Better (IRE) 16-1 (11-3) Soon tracked leader, ridden and lost place 10th, fell 12th, in a race won by Master Overseer (10-10) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (3) hvy, 7 ran.
Good Harvest (IRE) 6-1 (11-5) Not jump well, mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, weakened last, 5th of 9, 27l behind Sea Cadet (10-8) at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Nov.
Noun De La Thinte (FR) 2-1fav (11-12) Tracked leader, led 6th, made most after, advantage from 3 out, clear before last, kept on strongly (no time taken), won at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp 0-90 (5) sft beating Killfinnan Castle (10-6) by 2 3/4l, 9 ran.
Cybora (FR) 9-2 (10-3) Held up, blundered 6th, ridden and outpaced approaching 4 out, 5th of 9, 21l behind Fred Bojangals (10-0) at Musselburgh 2m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs in Nov.
