tracked winner, blundered 2nd, ridden approaching 4 out, weakened from after 2 out
tracked leaders, lost touch 5th, blundered 5 out, soon beaten
tracked leaders until fell 6th
held up, headway to chase winner 4 out, ridden, kept on one pace from 2 out
held up, hit 7th, chased leaders from next, ridden 4 out, weakening when fell 2 out
made all, ridden approaching 4 out, kept on
prominent, ridden 4 out, weakening when brought down 2 out
Mystic Glen has a nice racing weight but Peter Niven's mare has to race from 10lbs out of the handicap so looks best left out of calculations with preference for MAJORCA, who gets the vote ahead of Nobel. Brian Storey's gelding ran creditably when chasing home Crathorne in a novice chase at Hexham when last seen in June and has claims off a fair mark if fit enough for his reappearance on ground that suits. King's Jester has claims on the pick of his form but James Lambe's runners have been below par of late so he may be best watched, while Lucinda Russell's Go Silver Bullet may prefer a softer surface. Preference then is for Ferdy Murphy's Majorca who was well held last time at Ludlow over 2m4f but had run well at Huntingdon previously over two miles and back over that trip he looks worth supporting to give his in-form handler another winner.
Or de Grugy (FR) 20-1 (10-11) In touch, weakened from 10th, beaten when unseated rider 5 out in race won by Yes Sir (11-10) at Wetherby 2m 4f lst hcp chs (1) gf in Oct, 8 ran.
Nobel (FR) 5-4fav (11-1) Raced keen, tracked leaders, led after 3 out, mistake and headed 2 out, soon outpaced, rallied to chase winner approaching last, no impression, 2nd of 6, 16l behind Crathorne (11-0) at Hexham 2m 4f nov chs (4) gf in Jun '07.
Smart Street 40-1 (11-6) Held up, hit 9th, weakened from 4 out, 5th of 9, 36l behind Corlande (11-5) at Market Rasen 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Nov.
Majorca 11-1 (11-3) Held up, mistake 9th (water) behind when pulled up 5 out in race won by Opera de Coeur (11-8) at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Nov, 7 ran.
King's Jester (IRE) 12-1 (10-13) Never a factor, 11th of 15, 26l behind Quai Du Roi (10-7) at Bellewstown 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-109 gf in Jul.
Go Silver Bullet (FR) 4-1 (11-9) Led and mistakes, stumbled and headed 4 out, ridden and weakened from next, 6th of 8, well behind Run To Space (10-13) at Kelso 2m 1f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Nov.
Mystic Glen 15-2 (10-0) Mid-division, headway 4th, challenged 2 out, one pace from last, 2nd of 11, 2l behind Frith (10-2) at Catterick 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd.