blundered 1st, always in rear, mistake 7th, well behind from 8th, mistake 4 out, tailed off
raced keenly, tracked leader 1st, led 11th, jumped slightly left 3 out and 2 out, edged left flat, held on well
led to 11th, 3rd when pulled up after 13th
held up, headway 12th, left 3rd after next, weakening when pecked 4 out
chased leaders, not fluent 7th, reminder after 10th, hit 11th, weakened next
held up, raced keenly, headway 4th, went close 2nd 12th, ridden and lugged right after 3 out, driven to challenge when slightly stopped flat, outbattled
chased leaders, lost place 4th, not fluent and behind after, tailed off when pulled up before 12th
THE PACKAGE was good enough to be sent off favourite for a valuable Grade 3 handicap chase in February and he should be able to finally break his chasing duck today, while Oscar Royal and Matuhi can fight out the minors. David Pipe's six-year-old was well backed to win that big race, and he ran well in defeat, finishing a seven-length second to Paul Nicholls' New Little Bric. Kept to hurdling for his last three starts, presumably to preserve his novice status, he will definitely stay further than this and he acts on the ground. Oscar Royal has a stone to find with the selection on official ratings, but he loves fast ground and gets this trip well, as evidenced by a good effort at Stratford last time. He can go well again without winning. Matuhi has shown his best form on good ground or slower, although he was still travelling well on good to firm when tipping up at in that same Stratford contest last time, and with a clear round can battle out the minors. Cove Mountain may emerge as the best of a very moderate remainder, but The Package should really be a penalty kick.
Brimley 40-1 (10-11) In touch, pushed along 7f out, outpaced over 3f out, 5th of 11, 13l behind Secure My Position (11-0) at Worcester 2m NH flat (5) gd in Sep.
Matuhi 9-2 (10-13) Tracked leader, led 5th, blundered badly and unseated rider 3 out, in a race won by Seven Is My Number (11-5) at Stratford 2m 4f noc chs (4) gf in Sep, 10 ran.
Oscar Royal (IRE) 25-1 (10-13) Led and raced keen, headed 5th, tracked leader, ridden after 2 out, chased winner approaching last, not quicken flat, 2nd of 10, 2 1/4l behind Seven Is My Number (11-5) at Stratford 2m 4f noc chs (4) gf in Sep.
Pharaon de Touzaine (FR) 15-2 (11-0) Blundered 1st, always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Ripalong Lad (11-0) at Southwell 3m 2f mdn chs (4) gd in Jul, 11 ran.
Ralahine (IRE) 100-1 (10-13) Always behind, 6th of 10, 37l behind Ogee (10-13) at Bangor 2m 4f noc chs (4) gd in Sep.
The Package 11-2 (11-5) Held up behind, headway when hit 4 out, soon ridden, weakened 2 out, 9th of 10, 29l behind How's Business (11-4) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) gd in May.
Cove Mountain (IRE) 14-1 (11-1) With leader, driven 3 out, weakened after 2 out, 10th of 16, 20l behind Crouch End Flyer (10-13) at Towcester 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf.
