held up mid-division, headway 9th, chased winner, hit 4 out, ridden 2 out, weakened
held up in rear, mistake 9th, behind when fell 14th
mid-division, weakened after 4 out, mistake 3 out
led, hit 4 out, ridden when hit 3 out, clear 2 out, comfortable
in rear, weakened 11th, hampered and unseated rider 14th
towards rear, ridden from 11th, some headway 5 out, hit next, weakened 3 out
in touch, lost place 10th, ridden, weakened 15th, mistake 4 out
always in rear, pecked 2nd, behind when pulled up before 14th
tracked winner throughout, ridden to chase leading pair 3 out, stayed on to take 2nd again flat
held up, keen, headway to track leaders 3rd, weakened 14th
mid-division, reminder 6th. lost place 8th, tailed off when pulled up before 14th
mid-division, weakened 14th
mid-division, ridden, weakened 15th, pulled up before 3 out
always towards rear, tailed off from 5 out
held up mid-division, headway 12th, ridden to chase leaders 4 out, weakened 2 out
Merry Storm and Reflex Blue were considered, but the vote goes to Alfred The Grey. Much as the selection has been raised three pounds for a narrow Huntingdon defeat last time, that is probably fair and, given that he still looks competitively weighted on some old form, he can go well in a race that will not take too much winning. Merry Storm comes here seeking a straight hat-trick of wins and, judged on the way he won at Hereford last time, you have to seriously consider him, even under his penalty, while Reflex Blue seems to like it here and he won a selling hurdle from a ten-pounds higher mark in January 2004 and has shown enough over fences to warrant a mention. Rated five pounds above his Warwick win two runs ago, a case can be built for Cool Song, although you'll have to forgive him him his Uttoxeter run last time. Finally, Petolinski was second off today's mark at Towcester in May, which affords him respect although he has not run since June, Shuffling Pals is probably better than he has shown, and Valley Warrior ran pretty well when second to Waynesworld at Worcester in October, but he has not built on that in two runs since. All of which returns us to the selection, which is Alfred The Grey.
Merry Storm (IRE) 5-2 (10-9) Held up, smooth headway 11th, led 2 out, clear approaching last, pushed out, won at Hereford 3m 1f hcp chs 0-88 (5) sft beating Brigadier Du Bois (11-4) by 12l, 16 ran.
Peveril Pride 66-1 (11-2) Always behind, lost touch 7th, tailed off, 5th of 6, 40l behind Smart Cavalier (11-2) at Folkestone 2m mdn chs (4) sft.
Jesnic (IRE) 16-1 (11-1) Hampered 8th, always behind, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Temper Lad (10-10) at Hereford 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-90 (F) gs in Nov, 17 ran.
Boardroom Dancer (IRE) 25-1 (10-8) Held up last, ridden approaching 4 out, no impression, 4th of 9, 24l behind Presenting Express (10-13) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp chs 0-105 (E) gd in Dec.
Petolinski 4-1 (9-8) Held up in touch, headway 8th to chase winner, ridden and weakened approaching 4 out, behind when pulled up at the last in race won by Lord 'n' Master (11-12) at N Abbot 3m 2f hcp chs 0-110 (E) gd in Jun, 9 ran.
Reflex Blue 14-1 (10-9) Mid-division, ridden and weakened after 3 out, 5th of 16, 38l behind Ask The Umpire (11-12) at Towcester 2m 3f amt hcp hdl (5) sft.
Alfred The Grey 25-1 (9-11) Held up, headway 4 out, chased leaders 2 out, every chance flat, held near finish, 2nd of 15, shd behind Regal Vision (10-2) at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-100 (F) gd in Dec.
Aisjem (IRE) 8-1 (10-11) Always in rear, tailed off when pulled up 5 out in race won by Anflora (10-0) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-95 (F) sft in Oct, 16 ran.
Cool Song 8-1 (9-11) Mid-division, weakened from 12th, behind when pulled up 4 out in race won by Major Benefit (11-5) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp chs 0-105 (E) hvy in Dec, 17 ran.
Constant Husband 66-1 (10-7) Started slowly, behind, headway 4 out, hit 3 out, weakened after next, 5th of 12, 17l behind Swallow Magic (10-7) at Leicester 2m 4f chs 0-90 (F) gf in Nov.
Monster Mick (FR) 4-1fav (9-12) Mistakes, mid-division, lost place 7th, behind when bumped and unseated rider at the 12th in race won by Never Awol (10-6) at Towcester 3m cnd hcp chs (F) sft in Nov, 10 ran.
Shuffling Pals (IRE) 28-1 (10-0) Chased leaders, mistake 1st, joined leaders 5th, ridden and weakened approaching 4 out, 5th of 12, 42l behind Trenance (10-4) at Exeter 2m 7f nov hcp chs 0-105 (E) sft in Dec.
Dome 20-1 (10-10) Chased leaders, took closer order 6th to track leader, ridden 8th, weakening when mistake 3 out, 6th of 12, 26l behind Ice Saint (10-9) at Stratford 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-95 (F) gf in Jun '02.
Glen Thyne (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) Mid-division, ridden 3rd, soon behind and pulled up at the 6th in race won by Vingis Park (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nov hdl (E) hvy in Dec, 14 ran.
Valley Warrior 7-1 (10-1) Mistakes and always behind, tailed off when pulled up at the 11th in race won by El Andaluz (10-3) at Market Rasen 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-105 (E) gs in Dec, 11 ran.
