tracked leaders, headway and every chance 4 out, ridden next, hit 2 out, no extra after
tracked leader, led after 8th, ridden 3 out and kept on well
tracked leaders, ridden 4 out, weakened from next
always towards rear, lost touch 10th, pulled up before 4 out
towards rear when hit and fell 5th
tracked leaders until ridden and weakened 4 out
always towards rear, beaten from 4 out
always behind, lost touch from 9th, pulled up before 4 out
led until 8th, stayed in touch, ridden 4 out and gradually weakened
mid-division, ridden and lost touch approaching 4 out, pulled up before 3 out
Categorical won this claiming chase last year but Keith Reveley's gelding may have to play second fiddle today to CHRYSANDER who is selected over Et Maintenant and Bestofthebrownies. Officially rated 132, Evan Williams' gelding comes here on the back of just a moderate run over hurdles at Wincanton. He had previously looked to be a progressive Novice chaser but connections will not be too disappointed if they lose him today for a decent sum as he may be hard to place off a mark of 132 in handicaps. Categorical has to give weight to all of his rivals and a step back up in trip will not be against Keith Reveley's consistent gelding. Bestofthebrownies unseated Paddy Aspell last time in the Grand Sefton but regular pilot Denis O'Regan is back on board today. This son of Bob Back should not be discounted down in grade and he may arouse some interest as he doesn't look exposed yet. Course and distance winners Snowy and Divex have a bit to find despite their fairly consistent profiles, so a bigger dancer may be Et Maintenant. The seven-year-old has his first start for Lucinda Russell this afternoon and it will be interesting to see if there is any support in the betting. A decent contest, where Chrysander in first-time cheek-pieces is taken to bounce back to form.
Categorical 4-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, smooth headway to lead 6th, ridden 3 out, headed next, one pace after, 2nd of 10, 2l behind Watch My Back (11-2) at Musselburgh 2m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Dec.
Chrysander 20-1 (11-12) Mid-division, ridden and effort after 3 out, weakened 2 out, 8th of 11, 29l behind White On Black (10-1) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Jan.
Et Maintenant (FR) 16-1 (10-7) Chased leaders, mistake 10th, ridden after 4 out, hit next, 5th and held when blundered 2 out, 6th of 10, 22l behind Laskari (10-11) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Nov.
Lofty Leader (IRE) 20-1 (11-5) Not fluent, behind, soon pushed along, weakened 4 out, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Moon Melody (10-9) at Cartmel 2m 1f sll hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gs in Aug, 14 ran.
Arigna (IRE) 80-1 (9-10) Led, headed after 4 out, soon weakened, last of 15, well behind Prosecco (10-9) at Ayr 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Jan.
Bestofthebrownies (IRE) 40-1 (10-0) Behind, pecked 5th, no chance when pulled up at the 9th in race won by Endless Power (10-0) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs (2) sft in Nov, 13 ran.
Barton Sun (IRE) 5-1 (11-8) Held up, outpaced 4 out, soon ridden and weakened, tailed off, 5th of 12, 49l behind Thatlldoforme (11-12) at Sedgefield 2m hcp chs 0-90 (5) hvy in Jan.
Ocean Dancer 33-1 (9-9) Mid-division, effort 10th, outpaced approaching 3 out, soon weakened and pulled up at the last in race won by Player (11-9) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs in Dec, 15 ran.
Snowy (IRE) 8-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, ridden from 14th, plugged on one pace, 3rd of 12, 10l behind Nelliedonethat (10-11) at Musselburgh 3m cnd hcp chs (5) gs in Jan.
Sybellius D'artaix (FR) 33-1 (11-12) Mid-division, ridden and weakened from 3 out, 13th of 14, 33l behind Longdale (10-11) at Sedgefield 2m 4f cnd hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft in Dec.
Divex (IRE) 11-2 (11-9) Mid-division, ridden approaching 4 out, soon one pace, 4th of 13, 12l behind Seize (11-7) at Musselburgh 3m hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Dec.
