Cloth Cap is already proving better over fences than hurdles and goes for the hat-trick here. However, he’s gone up another 9lb and that may have opened the door for LUCKOFTHEDRAW, just beaten last time at Carlisle when reverting to novice company. Knockrobin rather ran in snatches last time at Newcastle but has shown promise over the larger obstacles whereas Turtle Wars and Coningsby still have something to prove. Piton Pete still had a chance when unseating his rider at Ludlow but has yet to tackle a trip this far.
Luckofthedraw (FR) 10-3 (11-8) Tracked leaders on outside, outpaced before 3 out, soon ridden, 5th and no impression next, rallied before last, stayed on to press winner flat, always just held, 2nd of 7, 3/4l behind Didero Vallis (11-3) at Carlisle 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Cloth Cap (IRE) 85-40fav (11-2) Tracked leaders, headway on inside before 2 out, led between last 2, ridden clear flat, stayed on well (4 fences omitted), won at Catterick 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in Nov beating Red Giant (11-7) by 2 1/4l, 9 ran.
Piton Pete (IRE) 4-1 (11-0) Jumped right, not always fluent, tracked leaders, went 2nd from the 2nd until after 4th, 2nd again 8th until after 9th, hit 13th and stumbled, ridden before 4 out, still close 4th when blundered and unseated rider 2 out, at Ludlow 2m 4f (3) sft in Dec.
Knockrobin (IRE) 13-2 (11-8) Tracked leaders, ridden to challenge 4 out, led before next, headed approaching last, weakened closing stages, 5th of 6, 5 3/4l behind Skipthescales (11-0) at Newcastle 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Coningsby 8-1 (11-3) Mid-division, jumped left 1st, bad mistake 6th, not recover and soon pulled up, at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Turtle Wars (FR) 5-1 (10-7) Mid-division, weakening when mistake 4 out, pulled up before next, at Kempton 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
