held up in rear, mistake 3rd, headway 12th, weakened after next
held up in rear, not fluent 11th, headway 12th, challenged after 2 out, shaken up to lead flat, readily
held up towards rear, hit 8th, struggling after 13th
tracked leaders, went 2nd 11th, led next until 13th, led approaching 4 out, headed 2 out, no extra towards finish
chased leaders, pecked 10th, not fluent and lost place next, struggling 13th
led, not fluent 3rd, went left 5th, headed 7th, weakened approaching 4 out
prominent, led 13th, ridden and headed approaching 4 out, weakened before last
held up towards rear, headway when blundered 13th, jumped left 4 out, led 2 out, soon ridden, headed flat, stayed on
prominent, led 7th until 12th, ridden after 13th, weakening when mistake 2 out
held up in rear, not always fluent, mistake 10th, soon ridden, behind 13th
NIKOS EXTRA is quickly turned out after a luckless run at Southwell earlier in the week and he is preferred to Noble Crusader, Leamington Lad and Milton Des Bieffes. Again this looks like another tricky race for punters but the selection was well-backed for his engagement at Southwell. He unseated his rider through no fault of his own but he looks on a good mark and so with a clear round he should go well. He holds Mont Present on their run behind Polyfast in December, whilst Noble Crusader's beating of Russian Flag here last time has been seriously franked since. Sunnyhill Boy has become disappointing but it would be no surprise to see him improve now running in handicaps, Leamington Lad should appreciate the return to fences but looks a bit quirky, whilst Enlightenment looks poorly handicapped. Soulard caught a tartar last time and loosk a player after an 82 day break, whilst Borora and Kaldouas have claims if putting in fluent rounds of jumping. Milton Des Bieffes is consistent, whilst Master Somerville has the talent and should appreciate the shorter trip today. The tentative selection is Nikos Extra.
Enlightenment (IRE) 18-1 (10-11) In rear, weakened approaching 4 out, 6th of 8, 27l behind Oiseau de Nuit (10-4) at Ffos Las 2m hcp chs 0-125 (2) sft in Jan.
Sunnyhillboy (IRE) 7-1 (11-4) Not fluent, chased leader, mistake 7th, mistake and lost 2nd at 9th, pushed along after 11th, weakened 4 out, tailed off, last of 3, 40l behind Suntini (11-4) at Newbury 2m 2f nov stks (3) sft in Jan.
Noble Crusader (USA) 12-1 (11-3) Held up in rear, hit 4th, headway approaching 4 out, led after 3 out, drew clear flat, ran on well, comfortably, won at Ludlow 2m hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Dec beating Russian Flag (11-12) by 8l, 8 ran.
Leamington Lad (IRE) 14-1 (11-11) Chased leader, led 3rd, ridden soon after 3 out, driven and headed 2 out, weakened soon after, 9th of 11, 27l behind Spirit River (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Dec.
Soulard (USA) 5-1 (10-11) Disputed lead with winner until 6 out, chased winner after, ridden 3 out, one pace from 2 out, 2nd of 8, 6l behind Psychomodo (11-12) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Nov.
Borora 25-1 (10-1) Chased leaders, jumped slowly and lost place 9th, no threat after, 5th of 9, 17l behind Laskari (11-1) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Nov.
Kaldouas (FR) 25-1 (10-5) Chased leaders, went 2nd 5 out, weakened approaching 3 out, 7th of 15, 33l behind Watch My Back (11-4) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp chs 0-140 (2) gd in Dec.
Master Somerville 9-1 (11-9) Prominent early, held up, lost touch approaching 15th, tailed off, 5th of 7, well behind Western Whisky (10-7) at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Dec.
Mont Present (FR) 40-1 (11-4) Behind, mistakes 1st and 2nd, headway before 3 out, soon ridden and effort, weakened after 2 out, 5th of 13, 33l behind Polyfast (10-12) at Kempton 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Dec.
Milton Des Bieffes (FR) 5-1 (10-10) Led, ridden after 4 out, headed when not fluent 2 out, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 7, 3 1/2l behind Western Whisky (10-7) at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Dec.
Tyup Pompey (IRE) 8-1 (10-10) Prominent going to 1st, held up, headway 4th, went second 6th, not fluent 8th, left in lead approaching 4 out, soon headed, weakened approaching 2 out, hit last, 4th of 8, 26l behind Noble Crusader (11-3) at Ludlow 2m hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Dec.
Nikos Extra (FR) 2-1fav (11-9) Held up, unseated rider 11th, in a race won by Daldini (11-1) at Southwell 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft, 9 ran.
