tracked leaders, went 3rd before 9th, joined leaders travelling well 4 out, chased winner from 3 out, mistake last, stayed on flat, always held
held up in last trio, mistake 6th, steady headway to 5th just before 14th, went right 4 out and next, soon pulled up
chased leader, 3rd until 11th, chased leader, ridden before 4 out, led again 3 out, driven before last, stayed on well under pressure flat
held up in last trio, not fluent 7th, ridden and lost touch after 13th, blundered 14th, tailed off 4 out
in rear, slow and ridden 10th, lost touch 13th, tailed off when went left 4 out, pulled up before next
chased leading pair, nafter 6th, dropped to 4th before 9th, mistake 11th, well beaten when blundered 14th, tailed off
led, headed 3rd, pressed leader, led again 11th, ridden and joined 4 out, headed next, soon dropped to 3rd, not fluent 2 out, no chance with leading duo soon after, lost 3rd close home
held up, headway to 5th at 4th, went 4th approaching 14th, pushed along before 4 out, went left 2 out, stayed on to 3rd close home, no chance with leading duo
Chartreux cashed in on Fingal Bay's mishap to make a winning debut over fences at Exeter but has been harshly treated for that win. Honest John was all out to beat Chac Du Cadran at Doncaster and may struggle to complete the hat-trick, though he clearly likes soft ground and is still preferred to the one-paced Fabulous Fred. Mickelson has his first run for Jonjo O'Neill since leaving Noel Meade and this looks too far but Balbriggan is worth another try over 3m after his third at Ascot and High Kite has been knocking on the door. HANDY ANDY was third over a slightly shorter distance here at the start of the month and won off this mark over hurdles last season. Likely to improve further, he gets the nod today.
Chartreux (FR) 15-2 (11-0) Tracked leaders, left in clear lead 3 out, eased after last, won at Exeter 2m 3f nov chs (2) hvy beating Ashbourne Folly (11-0) by 40l, 3 ran.
Mickelson (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) Rear of mid-division, dropped to last 5 out, no impression from next, poor 9th when left 2 places closer 3 out, 6th of 18, 37l behind Protaras (11-11) at Gowran Park 2m 2f beg chs gd in Oct.
Handy Andy (IRE) 14-1 (10-11) Chased leaders to 7th, soon towards rear, headway 5 out, ridden to chase leaders before next, soon outpaced, stayed on to take 3rd flat, no impression with front pair, 3rd of 15, 7l behind Rolling Aces (11-12) at Newbury 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs.
Balbriggan (IRE) 9-4fav (11-9) Tracked leader, blundered 4th, led approaching bypassed 2 out, soon ridden, headed last, well held flat, lost 2nd near finish, 3rd of 6, 4 1/2l behind Lord Tomnoddy (11-8) at Ascot 3m nov hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Nov.
Fabulous Fred (IRE) 11-4fav (11-5) Behind, blundered 6th, headway before 5 out, wemt 3rd before 2 out, blundered last, one pace, 3rd of 9, 22l behind L'Eldorado (11-12) at Towcester 2m 3f hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft.
High Kite (IRE) 3-1fav (11-3) Chased leaders, mistake 6th, blundered 11th, pecked 13th, ridden before 3 out, chased winner 2 out, kept on and always held, 2nd of 13, 3 1/2l behind Master Neo (11-0) at Uttoxeter 3m beg chs (4) hvy in Nov.
Lemon's Gent 33-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, weakened before 10th, tailed off before 12th, soon pulled up, in a race won by So Fine (11-2) at Kempton 3m beg chs (4) sft in Nov, 7 ran.
Lady Karinga 33-1 (10-0) Held up behind, chased leaders under pressure before 4 out, kept on same pace from next, never on terms, 6th of 12, 11l behind Ballyoliver (11-5) at Newbury 3m 2f am hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs.
Honest John 4-1 (11-12) Tracked leader, led briefly before 10th, led again before 3 out, driven out, won at Doncaster 3m nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Nov beating Chac Du Cadran (11-9) by nk, 7 ran.
