in touch, ridden 12th, weakened next, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
mid-division, headway 7th, ridden 12th, weakened after 13th
prominent, lost place 6th, well behind 9th, tailed off when pulled up before 10th
led to 3rd, remained prominent, led 13th, ridden approaching last, headed close home
held up towards rear, headway 11th, mistake 12th, weakened 13th, mistake 4 out, pulled up before 3 out
held up towards rear, headway 12th, ridden and weakened approaching 4 out
chased leader, led 3rd to 7th, led approaching 10th, jumped left next, jumped left and headed 13th, rallied under pressure flat, led close home
prominent, mistake 3rd, led 7th, headed approaching 10th, weakened 2 out
pulled hard, headway 6th, mistake 3 out, weakening when not fluent 2 out
in rear, reminder 9th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
held up towards rear, headway 6th, lost place after 9th, weakened 13th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
held up in rear, blundered 13th, headway approaching 4 out, went left and weakened 2 out
in touch, weakened approaching 12th, behind when pulled up before 13th
This looks very open, but from a shortlist of MUTUAL RESPECT, Midnight Gold and Liberty Ben, we'll side with the first named. None of the runners are coming into this in any great form. The selection unseated his rider last time out, but prior to that had been regularly placed, and if there's any improvement to be had, it could be enough to win this. There shouldn't be any concerns about the going, and the step back down in trip looks to be a positive. Liberty Ben is giving weight away all round, and first time blinkers may focus him more than when making a mistake on his last run. Expect him to be at the vanguard early on. Midnight Gold, giving weight all bar Liberty Ben, is another that blundered last time out, but previously was placed here. Interesting his last win, albeit two and a half years ago, came over this trip, and it's the first time he's run at it since. There are maybe more negatives than positives about most of them, but the one we think has the fewest minus points is Mutual Respect.
Liberty Ben (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) Prominent, not fluent 6th, soon weakened, behind when pulled up at the 10th in race won by By George (10-7) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Nov, 12 ran.
Midnight Gold 10-1 (11-3) Chased leader, ridden 12th, soon weakened, blundered and unseated rider 3 out in race won by Wizard of Edge (10-0) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Dec, 8 ran.
Billesey (IRE) 14-1 (11-5) Led after 1st, blundered 4th, headed after 7th, weakened from 4 out, 7th of 9, 47l behind Corlande (11-5) at Market Rasen 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Nov.
Spring Lover (FR) 9-1 (11-9) Mid-division, lost touch 12th and pulled up 2 out in race won by Cresswell Willow (11-3) at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Nov, 15 ran.
Mutual Respect (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Mid-division when blundered and unseated rider at the 3rd in race won by Huckleberry (10-8) at Wetherby 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Dec, 10 ran.
Double Law 66-1 (11-12) Held up, mistake 1st, steady progress after 7th, mistake 9th, ridden after 3 out, weakened next, left 4th last, 4th of 13, 22l behind Baseball Ted (10-6) at Ascot 2m 1f nov hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs in Dec.
Fresh Air And Fun (IRE) 22-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, ridden approaching 2 out, weakened flat, 4th of 14, 14l behind Sheriff Hutton (11-12) at Doncaster 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Dec.
Marked Man (IRE) 18-1 (10-10) Chased leaders, led 4 out, headed 3 out, weakened 2 out, 5th of 12, 21l behind Busy Isit (11-4) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs in Dec.
Pret A Thou (FR) 7-1 (11-5) Led, pecked 1st, blundered 2nd, mistake 6th, headed when hit 3 out, soon weakened, blundered 2 out, 8th of 12, 36l behind Laharna (10-7) at Huntingdon 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Dec.
Roussea (IRE) 20-1 (11-12) Held up behind, headway after 9th, ridden approaching 13th, weakened 4 out and pulled up in race won by Joe Deane (10-11) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs in Nov, 12 ran.
Great Character (IRE) 50-1 (11-0) Mid-division when unseated rider at the 4th in race won by Solid As A Rock (10-2) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Dec, 15 ran.
Just Like That 13-8fav (10-12) Held up in rear, smooth headway from 3 out, shaken up and close 3rd when fell at the last in race won by Chunky Lad (10-5) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f sll hdl (5) gs in Nov, 8 ran.
Ede'iff 33-1 (10-4) Mid-division, headway 7th, led 10th to 13th, soon ridden, weakened after 4 out, 4th of 12, 32l behind Alcatras (10-1) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Dec.
