tracked leader, led 4th, headed before 8th, remained in touch, led again before 3 out, ridden and hard pressed when blundered next, hit last, stayed on under pressure flat
chased leaders, outpaced 4 out, weakened from next
held up in touch, chased leaders under pressure 4 out, soon outpaced, weakened from next
held up in rear, not fluent 9th and next, some headway after 4 out, soon outpaced, well beaten 4th when mistake next
always prominent, led before 8th, headed before 3 out, kept on and every chance until ridden and one pace flat
held up in touch, headway to chase leading pair after 4 out, ridden 2 out, kept on same pace, no impression approaching last
led to 4th, in touch, lost place 9th, soon behind, weakened 3 out
Graham Lee has won on Donovan but that success came three years ago and more obvious credentials are held by MISCHIEF MAN. Sue Smith's charge stayed on well to open his account over fences at Cartmel and may be able to progress at a modest level although he does have to prove himself on a testing surface still. The penny has yet to drop for Persian Gates over fences but he has only had the two starts and may yet deliver as may Sundown Trail who got no further than the fourth on his chase bow. Stolen Light has bits and pieces of form that put him in the picture whilst four of Kercabellec's six career wins have come at this track and it would be no great surprise to see him show up well.
Persian Gates (IRE) 7-2 (11-2) Held up towards rear, slightly hampered 1st, in 4th when stumbled badly 10th, not recover, soon tailed off, 5th of 9, well behind Fidelis (11-9) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Oct.
Cilrhiwviv 33-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, took keen hold, headway after 11th, weakened approaching 14th, blundered 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Feeling Peckish (9-7) at Ludlow 3m am hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Oct, 8 ran.
Mischief Man 9-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, led 2 out, ridden 1f out, stayed on well, won at Cartmel 2m 5f hcp 0-90 (5) gd in Aug beating Peak Seasons (10-0) by 2 1/4l, 8 ran.
Sundown Trail (IRE) 10-1 (10-10) Held up towards rear when blundered and unseated rider 4th, in a race won by Primrose Time (10-10) at Carlisle 2m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Oct, 14 ran.
Stolen Light (IRE) 14-1 (10-10) Tracked leaders, reminders approaching 7th, weakened from 4 out, 5th of 14, 35l behind Primrose Time (10-10) at Carlisle 2m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Oct.
Donovan (NZ) 12-1 (10-11) Held up in rear, pecked 6th, jumped slowly 4 out, no impression, tailed off, 10th of 13, well behind In The Zone (11-6) at Towcester 2m 3f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Oct.
Kercabellec (FR) 25-1 (9-13) Chased leaders, lost place 9th, hit next, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Rash Moment (11-5) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-90 (5) gd in Sep, 11 ran.