tracked leaders, lost place 4 out, soon outpaced, left 3rd last, no impression
mid-division, weakenend 10th, behind when pulled up after 4 out
mid-division, headway to lead after 4 out, headed after next, 2 lengths down and held when fell last
mid-division, reminders and lost place 8th, hit next, headway under pressure after 4 out, challenged next, no impression when mistake and left 2nd last
held up behind, headway 4 out, joined leaders next, soon led, left clear last, ridden and stayed on well flat
raced keenly, led, headed after 4 out, soon beaten
tracked leader, led 4 out, soon headed, no impression from next
in rear, lost touch 7th, tailed off when pulled up before 9th
chased leaders, hit 5th, weakened 8th, pulled up before 10th
always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 10th
chased leaders to halfway, tailed off when pulled up before 10th
EASBY MANDARIN is coming right and can get his nose in front here, while Runshan and Badger won't be far away. The selection should enjoy this little step up in trip and will relish conditions here today. He is up 4lb for a good performance last time when runner-up at Sedgefield and with some ueful chasing experience under his belt he is taken to score. Runshan is 11lb higher than when scoring in a handicap chase at Uttoweter in October and has found it tougher in better company since then. This is not quite such a strong race though and he could go well despite top weight. Charlie Pogson's Badger has lots to find with Runshan based on that Uttoxeter race, but he has improved a little since and looks likely to be good enough to get involved here. Jemez has been totally out of sorts of late, but if he could find some way of recapturing his hurdling abilities then he'd be in with a squeak, while Chorizo has not been seen for a long time and a market check is advised regarding Richard Guest's charge on this, his chase debut. Easby Mandarin can score here.
Runshan (IRE) 20-1 (10-6) Prominent until 12th, never back on terms, 9th of 16, 14l behind Saunders Road (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f cnd hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs.
Chorizo (IRE) 1-2fav (12-7) Trckd ldrs; eff 15; ev ch 2 out; one pce, 3rd of 8, 21l behind Danbury (12-0) at Trecoed 3m ptp frm in Jun.
Easby Mandarin 9-1 (11-2) Held up mid-division, headway to chase leaders approaching 3 out, chased winner approaching last, kept on well run-in, 2nd of 13, 1/2l behind Whatcanyasay (10-7) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft.
Jemez (IRE) 7-1 (11-4) Chased leader, mistake 1st, left in lead 4th, mistake and headed 6th, lost place approaching 10th, soon behind, mistake 11th, 11th of 15, well behind Prince of Persia (11-12) at Huntingdon 3m nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs.
Sycho Fred (IRE) 9-1 (10-11) Held up mid-division, chased leaders 3 out, mistake when weakening 2 out, 9th of 13, well behind Whatcanyasay (10-7) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft.
Badger 7-2 (11-4) Mid-division and keen, mistake 2nd, reminders, soon ridden along, hard ridden final half of race, stayed on briefly after 3 out, 5th of 11, 2l behind Kinkeel (10-0) at Towcester 2m 3f cnd hcp chs (5) sft in Nov.
Chapel Flowers (IRE) 4-1jt-fav (11-10) Mid-division, headway 4 out, ridden to chase leaders next, weakened 2 out, 8th of 17, 33l behind Jane Doe (10-10) at Newcastle 3m hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gs in Nov.
Bridging Loan 14-1 (11-0) Held up, mistake 2nd, ridden approaching 3 out, soon beaten, 12th of 14, 36l behind Admiral Savannah (11-0) at Wetherby 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft.
Borisova (IRE) 25-1 (10-11) Prominent, went 6th until 10th, soon ridden, weakened 12th and pulled up in race won by Rosie All Over (11-12) at Exeter 3m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft, 9 ran.
Hazeam 16-1 (10-11) Held up in rear, jumped right 1st, no chance from 9th, blundered 2 out, 8th of 9, 36l behind Major Catch (11-7) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft in Nov.
Feeling Peckish (USA) 150-1 (10-7) In rear, hit 7th, soon detached, last of 5, well behind Will Be Done (11-2) at Market Rasen 2m 6f beg chs (4) sft in Nov.
