held up, headway after 4 out, hung right approaching 2 out, weakened after last
chased leaders, led approaching 3 out, headed next, kept on towards finish
mid-division, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out
led, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, weakened after last
in touch, headway to chase leaders approaching 3 out, weakened next
chased leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened last
held up towards rear, never dangerous
held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, kept on from last
towards rear, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out
held up, headway to chase leaders approaching 3 out, soon weakened
held up in touch, hit 3 out, led next, kept on well
held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, stayed on after next, never on terms
chased leaders, weakened from 4th, tailed off and pulled up after 5th
The vote here goes to Rehearsal, with Bodfari Signet and Border Tale rated as the main dangers. Rehearsal showed plenty of promise last season and a mark of 115 seems fair enough. He fell on his return but we are prepared to forgive that and select him to build on last year's promise. Bodfari Signet is on the mark from which he won at Perth in May, and he is also a course and distance winner, so give him some thought, while Mango Catcher holds claims on his best Irish form, although the handicapper has not taken chances with the import. Border Tale holds claims if getting back to his May Aintree winning form, and don't rule out Sir Night, although he's seven pounds above his Kelso win, and Fiery Peace is well-weighted based on his best chasing form, and he bounced back to winning ways last time. Royal Glen is six pounds above a winning mark, while Saif Sareea seems to have lost his way. It would be hard to fancy the others, which returns us to the selection, which is Rehearsal.
Rehearsal 11-4fav (11-2) Raced keen, held up in rear, headway when fell 4 out in race won by Rising Generation (11-9) at Kelso 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (D) gs in Oct, 13 ran.
Sovereign State (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) Held up in mid-division, outpaced from 7th, 5th of 8, 11l behind Just In Time (11-5) at Perth 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (D) gf in Aug.
Bodfari Signet 25-1 (10-10) Mistakes towards rear, never dangerous, 10th of 13, well behind Tynedale (10-8) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-125 (D) gs.
Mango Catcher (IRE) 20-1 (10-2) Soon led, mistake 2nd, strongly pressed from 2 out, kept on well under pressure, headed close home, 2nd of 19, nk behind Run Katie Chimes (10-4) at Gowran Park 2m hcp hdl 0-130 gf in Oct.
Border Tale 16-1 (11-1) Behind, ridden and stayed on from 3 out, never going pace to reach leaders, 5th of 11, 16l behind Priors Dale (11-12) at Windsor 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gd.
Sir Night (IRE) 9-2fav (11-7) In touch, headway 4th, ridden 3 out, kept on flat, 5th of 14, 6l behind Lord Lington (11-12) at Warwick 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (E) gd in Oct.
Bollin Thomas 40-1 (10-13) Mid-division, effort 3 out, soon one pace and beaten, 6th of 19, 16l behind Not Left Yet (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m nov hcp hdl 0-110 (D) gs.
Fiery Peace 9-1 (11-3) Jumped right throughout, held up in rear, headway 4 out, left in lead next, ridden out, won at Market Rasen 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (D) gs beating Deep Water (11-8) by 3l, 8 ran.
Royal Glen (IRE) 15-2 (10-6) Held up towards rear, pushed along 4 out, no impression, 6th of 10, 17l behind Sir Night (10-5) at Kelso 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gf in Oct.
Pearson Glen (IRE) 13-2 (10-7) Led and soon clear, mistake 5th, headed approaching 2 out, soon ridden and weakened, 4th of 13, 27l behind Chef de Cour (11-12) at Sedgefield 2m 1f nov hdl (E) sft.
Saif Sareea 9-1 (11-7) Mid-division, close up when stumbled badly and unseated rider 5 out in race won by Margarets Wish (10-10) at Uttoxeter 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (G) gd in Jul, 14 ran.
Hugs Destiny (IRE) 12-1 (10-4) Mid-division when brought down at the 3rd in race won by Wild Is The Wind (11-10) at Carlisle 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (D) hvy in Oct, 17 ran.
King's Envoy (USA) 100-1 (10-9) In touch, ridden approaching 2 out, no impression, 4th of 13, 12l behind Constable Burton (11-1) at Perth 2m nov hdl (E) gs in Sept.
