held up, outpaced 9th, good headway to join leaders 4 out, one pace from next
led to 3rd, chased leader, ridden after 4 out, soon weakened
chased leaders, led 8th, driven out
behind, prominent 7th, ridden 3 out, kept on from last
held up, headway and hit 4 out, chased winner from next, kept on
held up mid-division, struggling from 8th
mid-division, ridden and hampered when unseated rider 4 out
prominent, hit 7th, lost place from next, tailed off
Magic Route, Royal China and Assumetheposition look the three for consideration and we shall stick with Royal China. Royal China is far from the most impressive of horses but he jumps from fence to fence and with a much under-rated jockey in the plate, there is enough for us to go on in what is a modest contest. Magic Route has been consistent in recent months but the handicapper has stuck him up 17lb for a win at Southwell and this could be described as harsh. Assumetheposition is a regular in modest events of this nature and should run his usual race. Auditor has some bits and pieces of form that are noteworthy but is scarcely open to improvement. Spanchil Hill is still a maiden after 13 starts. Royal China is at least in form so we shall nominate accordingly.
Magic Route (IRE) 12-1 (10-4) Mid-division, headway 11th, led approaching 3 out, soon clear, won at Southwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-90 (5) gd beating Assumetheposition (11-6) by 15l, 14 ran.
Captains Table 12-1 (10-7) Chased leader to 3rd, mistake 5th, soon lost pace pulled up 3 out in race won by Lindsay (11-4) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp chs 0-110 (E) gd in Dec, 8 ran.
Assumetheposition (FR) 14-1 (11-6) In touch, outpaced 10th, stayed on to take remote 2nd close home, 2nd of 14, 15l behind Magic Route (10-4) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-90 (5) gd.
Royal China (IRE) 6-1 (10-6) Chased leaders, led 6th, clear 10th, ridden out, won at Uttoxeter 2m 5f hcp chs 0-90 (5) gd in Jul beating Rash Moment (10-13) by 1l, 14 ran.
Spanchil Hill 50-1 (10-9) Keen, chased leaders, every chance approaching 4 out, soon ridden, weakened 3 out, 5th of 14, 37l behind September Moon (10-7) at Worcester 2m 7f beg chs (4) gf in Jun.
Troysgreen (IRE) 10-1 (9-11) Tracked leaders, blundered and unseated rider at the 9th in race won by Ballynure (10-0) at Perth 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gf, 8 ran.
Auditor 16-1 (9-13) Jumped right, with leader until 10th, soon weakened, tailed off when jumped violently right 4 out and pulled up at the 7th in race won by Sharaab (10-8) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd, 7 ran.
Luckycharm (FR) 11-1 (9-4) Tracked leaders, mistake 1st, chased winner 4 out, kept on from last, 2nd of 9, 3 1/2l behind Mollycarrsbrekfast (10-3) at Market Rasen 3m 1f hcp chs 0-90 (5) gs.
