held up in last trio, ridden and struggling 3 out, tailed off
chased leaders, went 2nd 3rd, blundered 5th, lost 2nd next, chased leading pair until 3 out, weakened soon after
led, narrowly headed 7th, led again next, ridden and joined when hit 2 out, headed and carried left after last, kept on same pace
chased leader until 3rd, chased leadeing pair, went 2nd again 6th, led narrowly 7th until next, chased leader, ridden when lost 2nd and hit 2, soon ridden and outpaced in 4th, went one paced 3rd again flat
mid-division, driven and weakened before 7th, plugged on again from 2 out
tracked leading trio, slightly hampered 5th, went 3rd after 3 out until ridden next, soon went 3rd agin, driven to challenge last, led and hung left soon after, stayed on well, driven out
held up in rear, good headway after 3 out, went 2nd approaching and every chance 2 out, still chance approaching last, weakened badly flat
in touch, headway to chase leaders when went left 5th, weakened soon after next, tailed off
mistake 1st, last trio, ridden and weakened before 3 out, tailed off
This is GANDALFE's easiest task to date over fences and he should finally get off the mark. David Arbuthnot's eight-year-old was only beaten a neck by Mamlook over this trip at Sandown last season and that form is head and shoulders above that achieved by any of today's rivals. Knockdolian could do better now tackling fences but Lough Coi appears to be going backwards and Tchang Goon's form is only modest. Dynamic Idol is a long-standing maiden on the Flat and over hurdles and is probably best watched now going over the larger obstacles.
Browns Brook (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) Held up in last pair, mistake and ridden 5th, headway to get in behind leaders 6th, weakened next, 6th of 9, 37l behind Minella For Steak (10-12) at Folkestone 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Dynamic Idol (USA) 5-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, ridden after 2 out (normal 3 out), no extra in 5th before last, 5th of 8, 15l behind Wily Fox (11-12) at Folkestone 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) sft in Nov.
Gandalfe (FR) 50-1 (11-7) Tracked leader, led after 3rd, hit and headed 6th, every chance when mistake 3 out, stayed on same pace from next, lost 3rd close home, 4th of 8, 18l behind Eastlake (11-10) at Ascot 2m 1f nov hcp chs 0-120 (4) hvy in Dec.
Go On Arch (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Behind until fell 7th, in a race won by No No Bingo (11-5) at Hereford 2m 3f hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Dec, 12 ran.
Knockdolian (IRE) 6-1 (10-11) Held up in touch, weakened before 2 out, tailed off, 4th of 7, 25l behind Thundering Home (10-12) at Kempton 2m cond nov hcp hdl 0-100 (5) sft in Nov.
Lough Coi (IRE) 8-1 (11-9) Held up in rear, headway approaching 5 out, soon weakened, behind when pulled up 3 out, in a race won by The Big Freeze (11-12) at Exeter 3m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) hvy in Dec, 8 ran.
Spit (IRE) 4-1fav (10-0) Reluct and almost refused to race, continued hopelessly tailed off, last of 13, well behind Drussell (11-2) at Ludlow 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Dec.
Tchang Goon (FR) 8-1 (9-9) Held up, mistake 1st, headway 9th, disputing close 3rd when hit 2 out and left 2nd, beaten when hit last, 2nd of 6, 9l behind Thedreamstillalive (11-0) at Folkestone 2m 5f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Nov.
Flugzeug 33-1 (10-5) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened last (usual 3 out), last of 6, 50l behind Ace Fighter Pilot (11-5) at Plumpton 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Dec.
