tracked leaders, went 2nd 7th, led 9th, jumped right next, ridden and stayed on from 2 out, eased close home
in rear, headway 8th, ridden to chase winner 3 out, keeping on one pace when jumped tired at last
close up, went 3rd 7th, joined winner 10th, ridden next, weakened 3 out, lost 3rd flat
led until first, tracked leader until ridden and lost two places 7th, struggling next, behind when pulled up 3 out
not jump well in touch, dropped to rear at 3rd, mistake next, behind when pulled up 10th
led first, headed 9th, hampered next, blundered badly 4 out, pulled up before 3 out
in rear, ridden and progress 4 out, kept on to go 3rd flat, never a factor
Nonrunner
A case can be made for every one of these so DARK ENERGY is a purely speculative selection on the basis that he's won four times at this course before. Dorset Naga's winning run came to an end when falling at Wetherby but he can figure with a clear round and Suburban Bay won easily at Huntingdon last week. Strumble Head didn't last home over 3m3f last time but scored at this track before that while Balinroab has ran poorly either side of a win at Huntingdon. The remainder were all placed on their latest starts and are not easily dismissed in a difficult race to call.
Present View 9-2 (10-13) Held up towards rear, headway after 12th, challenged before 3 out, led 3 out, ridden and headed before last, kept on same pace, 2nd of 10, 5l behind Annacotty (11-4) at Kempton 3m nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs.
Balinroab (IRE) 16-1 (11-10) Held up in rear, not fluent 13th, closed 4 out, weakened after next, 7th of 8, 22l behind Rockchasebullett (10-6) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs.
Spanish Arch (IRE) 5-1 (10-7) Mid-division, headway 9th, went 2nd 13th, pecked 4 out, led narrolwy next, headed last, no extra when lost 2nd close home, 3rd of 11, 3 1/2l behind Trafalgar (10-12) at Worcester 2m 7f nov hcp chs (0-125) (3) sft in Oct.
Strumble Head (IRE) 11-2 (10-13) Chased leaders, reminders after 9th, went 3rd at 10th, reminders after 12th, weakened 16th, 6th of 8, 42l behind Life Of A Luso (11-10) at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gf in Sep.
Talkin Thomas (IRE) 11-4 (11-10) Tracked leaders, blundered 6 out, headway before 2 out, ridden and chance before last, kept on towards finish, 3rd of 12, 1l behind Cavite Eta (11-4) at Sedgefield 2m nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Oct.
Suburban Bay 10-3 (11-9) Led 2nd, made rest, clear from 10th out, hit last, comfortable, won at Huntingdon 3m nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft beating Riddlestown (11-12) by 26l, 7 ran.
The Magic Bishop 8-1 (10-13) Towards rear, headway 3 out, ridden and stayed on to go 2nd towards finish, 2nd of 10, 4l behind Italian Master (11-12) at Market Rasen 3m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft.
Dark Energy 14-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, mistake 4th and 5th, lost place 10th, rallied before last, no impression on leaders, 4th of 7, 5l behind Goring One (10-9) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Oct.
Dorset Naga 5-1 (11-1) Held up towards rear, pushed along before 4 out, held in 6th when fell 3 out, in a race won by Grandads Horse (11-12) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Oct, 8 ran.
