towards rear, stayed on from 4 out
tracked leader, left in lead 4th, headed approaching next, ridden 4 out, weakened 2 out
held up, hampered 4th, headway 8th, led 13th, fell 4 out
held up, ridden, headway after 13th, weakened 3 out
led, in touch, mistake 2nd, ridden 2 out, kept on to lead close home
tracked leaders, led approaching 5th, headed 8th, ridden 13th, weakened 4 out
in touch, led 8th, jumped right 10th, headed, weakened 13th
mid-division, headway on inside 12th, led approaching 2 out, all out when headed close home
towards rear, headway to go in touch 10th, jumped right 13th, left in lead next, headed when blundered 3 out, soon weakened
in touch, ridden to chase leaders 4 out, weakened next
always in rear, hampered 4 out
mid-division, behind from 9th
mid-division, mistake 2nd, close up when hampered 13th, ridden 4 out, stayed on
led, unseated rider 4th
towards rear, mistake 1st, headway when blundered 13th, pulled up soon after
in touch, lost place, behind 9th
Never So Blue, Master Somerville and Moody Lad are the shortlisted trio here and Never So Blue is taken to complete the hat trick. The novice, Master Somerville hinted at ability last season, and shaped well on his re-appearance here, fading in the closing stages but still finishing fourth. That was his first run for eight months, he looks more of a chasing type, and Henry Daly's runners tend to come on for the run so he can hit the frame. Irish raider Moody Lad has shaped well in his last two starts and he may be well handicapped as he comes to this country. He is respected. Never So Blue has won his last two starts in impressive fashion at Wincanton and Hereford and a seven pound penalty looks unlikely to stop him. Venetia Williams has had five winners in the last week and Never So Blue can make it another.
Jim Edwards (IRE) 3-1fav (10-4) Tracked leaders, blundered badly 3rd, not jump well after, jumped right and mistake 14th, weakening when fell 3 out in race won by Sir Bathwick (10-13) at Newbury 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs, 8 ran.
Moody Lad (IRE) 5-2fav (10-7) Always prominent, 3rd halfway, left 2nd 4 out, ridden and outpaced after next, one pace, 2nd of 9, 18l behind Maree Prince (11-12) at Downpatrick 2m 2f hcp chs 0-102 gf in Nov.
Chilly Milly 7-1 (10-3) Held up, headway 5th, left in lead 4 out, headed 2 out, one pace, 2nd of 8, 3l behind Theatre Diva (11-7) at Ludlow 2m 5f mrs hcp hdl (4) gd in Jan.
Master Somerville 14-1 (11-12) In touch, ridden 4 out, ridden 3 out, weakened last, 4th of 13, 8l behind Andorran (9-13) at Ludlow 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Nov.
Never So Blue (FR) 5-6fav (11-0) Chased leader, led 9th, clear 12th, unchallenged, eased flat, won at Wincanton 2m 5f cnd hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft beating Chimichurri (10-11) by a distance, 7 ran.
Iris's Flyer 14-1 (11-10) Mid-division, headway approaching 6th, weakened approaching 2 out, mistake last, 7th of 15, 27l behind Forzacurity (10-4) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Jun.
Kadam (IRE) 4-1jt-fav (10-12) Led, mistake 6th, ridden when headed after 3 out and weakened, 5th of 10, 22l behind Sninfia (10-0) at Chepstow 2m 4f cnd sll hdl (5) gs in Nov.
Roussea (IRE) 10-1 (11-5) In touch, ridden 3 out, weakened 2 out, 5th of 11, 21l behind Never So Blue (11-9) at Hereford 2m nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs.
Solarias Quest 13-2 (10-11) Mid-division, ridden 4 out, mistake and weakened next, 11th of 16, 44l behind Harbour Breeze (11-12) at Hereford 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Nov.
Xila Fontenailles (FR) 33-1 (10-8) Chased leaders, weakened after 4 out, no chance when unseated rider 2 out in race won by Beat The Boys (11-2) at Kempton 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Nov, 9 ran.
Aheadofhistime (IRE) 14-1 (10-6) Held up, headway 11th, chased leaders 3 out, weakened under pressure between last 2, 4th of 9, 24l behind Follow Your Heart (11-4) at Folkestone 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs.
National Diploma (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) Held up, hampered after 7th, behind from 9th, tailed off when pulled up 5 out in race won by Lazy But Lively (10-8) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Nov, 16 ran.
Arctic Cherry (IRE) 28-1 (11-1) Mid-division, ridden and weakened 2 out, 5th of 14, 18l behind Thievery (10-4) at Hereford 2m nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Nov.
Castle Frome (IRE) 16-1 (10-3) Led, jumped slowly and headed 2nd, behind from 5th, ran on, 4th of 10, 17l behind Magot De Grugy (11-9) at Chepstow 2m nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs in Nov.
If Only I Knew (IRE) 50-1 (10-12) Tracked leader, left in lead approaching 5th, jumped right and headed 7th, under pressure next, weakened before 3 out, tailed off, 9th of 14, well behind Merchent Paddy (10-12) at Chepstow 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Little Villain (IRE) 20-1 (10-8) Led to 1st, lost place when hampered 6th, behind from 9th, tailed off, 5th of 10, 40l behind Golden Oak (10-8) at Towcester 2m 3f chs 0-95 (5) sft in Nov.
