made all, drew clear from 3 out, comfortably
with winner, outpaced approaching 4 out, no impression from next
chased leading pair, lost place 8th, soon behind, pulled up after 10th
mistakes, soon behind, no chance when fell 4 out
held up, hit 11th, headway approaching 4 out, 12 lengths down in 3rd, no impression, fell next
behind, blundered 8th, tailed off when pulled up before 5 out
It's very hard to look past ACCORDING TO PETE here with Mill Side looking the only major danger while Mat Hill is the only other you'd really give a sniff to. The selection has been unbeatable this season and on his last run took the fixed brush hurdle at Haydock, heading a high class field. The previous two wins this term have come in novice chases like this and Malcolm Jefferson's charge is rated 10lbs better than his nearest rivals. It¿s on terms like this when phrases like penalty kick begin to surface. Mill Side looks to be best placed should things go wrong for the pick. This unexposed sort is officially rated at 127 over timber after claiming victory on his penultimate start. The form from that outing is pretty good and there's more improvement to come but whether there will be enough to overcome the odds here is doubtful. An Irish point to point winner Mat Hill could only manage sixth place on unsuitable ground over an inadequate trip on his last visit to a racecourse so this stiffer test should bring out a little more. Given that chances are warded but According To Pete should have him and the others beat.
According To Pete 11-2fav (10-13) Led from 1st, ridden from 2 out, drew clear approaching last, won at Haydock 3m hcp hdl (2) gs in Nov beating Souffleur (11-12) by 9l, 15 ran.
Mill Side 16-1 (11-4) Close up, ridden and weakened at 15th, tailed off, 4th of 7, well behind Ballyfitz (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m nov chs (2) sft in Nov.
Barneys Lyric 66-1 (10-11) Led to 6th, soon driven, weakened approaching 8th, tailed off, last of 12, well behind Character Building (11-12) at Towcester 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Nov.
Heraldry (IRE) 14-1 (11-9) Held up in rear, some headway approaching 2 out, soon ridden, never on terms, 7th of 11, 17l behind Mr Preacher Man (11-6) at Perth 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Sept.
Mat Hill (IRE) 50-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, ridden from 4 out, gradually weakened, 6th of 11, 10l behind Hernando's Boy (10-11) at Musselburgh 2m 4f beg chs (4) gd.
Treehouse 66-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, in poor 4th when hampered by loose horse and unseated rider at the 7th in race won by Belon Gale (11-0) at Sedgefield 3m 3f mdn chs (4) sft, 7 ran.
McKinneys (IRE) 200-1 (10-5) Tracked leaders, chased leader after 5th, weakened 4 out, 9th of 13, well behind Mhilu (11-5) at Wetherby 2m 4f nov hdl (4) frm in Oct.
