tracked leaders, ridden after 6th, hung left approaching 12th, outpaced from 3 out, went 3rd flat, no impression
tracked leaders, went 2nd 10th, led before 3 out, in command when jinked right just before last, soon well clear, easily
held up, jumped left and not fluent 5th, headway after 7th, not fluent 9th, mistake 13th, weakened before 3 out
pressed leader, led after 7th, headed 2 out, weakened last
held up in rear, headway 12th, went 2nd 2 out, no impression on winner
held up, took keen hold, weakened approaching 13th, tailed off and soon pulled up
led until after 7th, not fluent 12th, weakened approaching 3 out where mistake
Ikorodu Road has his sights lowered and would have every chance here on his best form. Plum Pudding likes the mud and is another to consider if fully wound-up after a short break but Three Chords will surely need this and See U Bob has shown little since joining the Jonjo O'Neill yard. Ballyoliver's run behind Cape Tribulation at Wetherby received a boost at Cheltenham on Saturday but he remains high enough in the weights while Buddy Bolero steps up in trip after winning a beginners' chase at Exeter, though that was probably a decent contest. DASHING GEORGE is the senior citizen in this but has been in good form all season and certainly wasn't winning out of turn at Wetherby last time. He's still fairly treated and can land this as well.
Ikorodu Road 20-1 (11-7) Held up mid-division, headway before 12th, every chance 4 out, challenged 3 out, kept on and no extra towards finish, 5th of 16, 1 1/2l behind Court By Surprise (10-10) at Doncaster 3m hcp chs 0-150 (2) gs in Dec.
Buddy Bolero (IRE) 4-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, went 3rd and hampered 7th, hit 9th, went 2nd before 4 out, soon challenging, upsides last, driven ahead final 100 yards, won at Exeter 2m 3f beg chase (4) hvy beating Theatrical Star (11-0) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
Ballyoliver 13-8fav (10-7) Mid-division, led 5out, headed next, soon driven and weakened, 3rd of 7, 18l behind Cape Tribulation (11-10) at Wetherby 3m 1f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) hvy in Dec.
Dashing George (IRE) 6-4fav (11-12) Led to 3rd, jumped right and bumped 4th, led again after 7th, mistake 5 out, clear from next, driven out, won at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft beating Eyre Apparent (11-0) by 13l, 5 ran.
See U Bob (IRE) 8-1 (10-3) In rear, blundered 8th, well behind before 5 out, plugged on to take remote 3rd closing stages, 3rd of 9, 37l behind Carrickboy (10-12) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs (2) hvy.
Three Chords (IRE) 4-1fav (11-8) Chased leaders, ridden 2 out, kept on same pace from last, 3rd of 9, 10l behind Garleton (10-8) at Bangor 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Apr '11.
Plum Pudding (FR) 33-1 (11-11) Tracked leader, lost place 10th soon in rear, driven and headway 3 out, kept on to go remote 2nd 2 out, 2nd of 9, 19l behind Loch Ba (11-5) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Nov.
