tracked leaders, not fluent 5th, hit 10th, went 2nd from 3 out, pressing winner flat, no impression towards finish
tracked winner until reached at 3 out, 3rd and beaten after, jumped right 2 out and last, kept on
always behind
held up in 5th, not fluent 5th, pushed along when not fluent 15th, outpaced and no impression after
made all, not fluent 7th, pressed flat, kept finding, stayed on well
held up in rear, not fluent 7th, headway after 15th, no impression from 4 out
chased leaders, mistake 9th, ridden before 4 out, no impression from 3 out
ORBASA could have done without an 8lb rise but can record back-to-back victories having ended a long losing run at Wincanton last month. Cut The Corner ran well in defeat at Stratford last week but is still 7lb higher than when last successful and finished behind Super Scorpion over course and distance last month. Still Believing goes well here and is effective over hurdles and fences. She won't be fazed by the switch back to the larger obstacles while Marcilhac has also won around here, though was pulled up on last month's reappearance at Chepstow.
Marcilhac (FR) 16-1 (10-0) Chased leaders early, slightly hampered and lost place 6th, towards rear, struggling 10th, pulled up before 5 out, at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) gs in Oct.
Cut The Corner (IRE) 13-2 (11-5) Held up in rear, headway 6th, outpaced 2 out, rallied last, went 2nd towards finish, no impression on winner, 2nd of 7, 3l behind Starchitect (11-12) at Stratford 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Still Believing (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) Held up in close 5th, closer in 4th after 6th, 2nd 2 out, led last, ridden and clear when hung left run-in, stayed on well, won at Ludlow 2m 5f hcp (3) gf in Oct beating Miss Mobot (11-10) by 1 3/4l, 5 ran.
Orbasa (FR) 15-2 (11-7) Mid-division, headway chasing leaders 7th, 2nd before 3 out, led 2 out, clear approaching last, kept on strongly, won at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Oct beating Notarfbad (11-12) by 5l, 9 ran.
Monbeg Charmer (IRE) 10-3 (10-12) Raced keenly, led and tended to jump right, hung right and headed after 8th, in touch on outside, ridden after 3 out, no chance with front trio before last, 4th of 7, 22 1/2l behind Ballymalin (10-12) at Worcester 2m 7f (4) gs in Sep.
Super Scorpion (IRE) 10-1 (11-5) Chased leaders on inside, plugged on same pace from 4 out, went modest 3rd at the last, 3rd of 13, 17l behind Braqueur D'or (11-4) at Ludlow 3m hcp (3) gf in Oct.
Mr Shantu (IRE) 25-1 (11-7) Chased leader, not fluent 8th, losing place when mistake 3 out, soon well beaten, 9th of 13, 32 1/2l behind Holly Bush Henry (11-4) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp (3) gd in Sep.
