tracked leader, led narrowly 10th, headed soon after 4 out, kept on one pace
close up, ridden 4 out, weakened 2 out
led, headed narrowly 10th, led again soon after 4 out, clear 2 out, ridden and ran on
raced wide, not fluent, tracked leaders, pushed along 10th, ridden 4 out, weakened next, eased flat, tailed off
keen, in touch in rear, ridden 10th, headway 2 out, kept on same pace
close up, ridden to go 3rd 3 out, stayed on flat
Saddlers Deal has struggled off higher marks since winning at Huntingdon in September but Pistol Basc went close to ending a long losing run when runner-up at Catterick recently and should figure again. However, IF IT BE YOUR WILL makes more appeal given he was having his first start over fences when a close-up third at Stratford - he has plenty of scope. Larteta and course winner Mister Wiseman have the past form to get involved but both arrive out of sorts.
Larteta (FR) 16-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, weakened next, 6th of 8, 18l behind Boss Des Mottes (10-12) at Fakenham 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd.
Saddlers Deal (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) Held up, headway 11th, left 3rd 5 out, chased leaders, ridden 3 out, left moderate 2nd last, 2nd of 8, 17l behind Lord Fox (10-12) at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp chs 0-100 (5) gd.
Mister Wiseman 20-1 (11-12) Led until 5th, soon led again, headed 7th, every chance 4 out, weakened 2 out, 5th of 8, 41l behind Toowoomba (11-9) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (5) gs in Jan.
If It Be Your Will 9-1 (11-3) In touch, outpaced 3 out, stayed on to chase leaders before last, never able to challenge, 3rd of 6, 2 1/2l behind Midnight Chorister (11-12) at Stratford 2m 1f 5yo nov hcp (4) gs.
Pistol Basc (FR) 5-1 (10-3) In touch, went 3rd from 6th, chased winner from 2 out, ridden before last, kept on towards finish, 2nd of 5, 1/2l behind Classinaglass (11-7) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gs.
Steady Progress (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, pushed along and weakened from 12th, 8th of 9, well behind Auldthunder (11-5) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (5) gs in Feb.