held up in rear, headway after 4 out, ridden to chase leaders before 2 out, kept on same pace, never on terms
held up behind, fell heavily 2nd
held up in touch on outside, headway after 4 out, went 2nd after next, outpaced when went left 2 out and again last, no chance with winner
held up in touch, outpaced before 3 out, never on terms, 6th and beaten when stumbled and unseated rider after last
tracked leaders, driven after 3 out, ridden and no impression from next
raced keenly, tracked front pair, outpaced before 2 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace, no chance with winner
led to after 1st, with leader, led again narrowly 5th, clear 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on well, comfortably
led after 1st, headed narrowly 5th, mistake 4 out, driven and lost place after 3 out, weakened next, tailed off
Our Merlin jumped poorly here last month and eventually paid the price though he was in touch at the time and has only been lightly raced. Be Daring did little for Paul Nicholls nor has he for Chris Gordon but this is a poor contest and there's a chance of some improvement. Kristal Hart looked to have a chance at Market Rasen in June but ran a shocker. Her earlier runs in the spring suggests she can go close here providing there's no more rain. Money For Nothing has been chasing and is on a lower mark over timber but he's 0-27 and hardly one to have faith in. FREE ONE is a speculative selection as though he's refused to race on the Flat a couple of times he hasn't done much wrong over hurdles, finishing a good second at Uttoxeter in the summer before finding Class 3 company too much for him last time.
Briac (FR) 9-2 (9-5) Keen, held up, ridden over 3f out, never a factor, 9th of 14, 19 3/4l behind Kaisan (9-7) at Chelmsford City 1m 5f hcp (7) pol in Nov.
Free One (IRE) 50-1 (10-7) Chased leaders, not fluent 2nd or 5th, weakened before 6th, tailed off, 8th of 13, dist behind Caid Du Lin (12-1) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Kristal Hart 11-4fav (11-12) Mid-division, headway 3 out, soon ridden, 4th and well held 2 out, 4th of 9, 25 1/2l behind Running In Heels (10-3) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp (5) gd in Jun.
Be Daring (FR) 4-1jfav (11-7) Towards rear, headway before 2 out, in 5th before last, no impression, 4th of 11, 11 1/2l behind Soulsaver (11-3) at Fontwell 2m 3f hcp (5) gs in Nov.
Wisecracker 100-1 (11-0) Chased leaders on inside, outpaced 2 out, no extra before last, 5th of 11, 22 1/4l behind Free Range (11-0) at Fakenham 2m mdn (4) gd in Nov.
Money For Nothing 6-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, led from 3rd, hit 5th, headed before and fell 10th, at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp (5) gs in Oct.
Our Merlin 7-1 (11-1) Chased leaders, mistake and rider lost irons briefly 2nd, 2nd after 7th, almost upsides travelling ok when fell 3 out, at Plumpton 2m 2f hcp (5) gs in Nov.
Zarliman (IRE) 50-1 (9-7) Tracked leaders in 4th place, ridden over 1f out, soon weakened, last of 13, 14 1/4l behind Lyrica's Lion (9-3) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp (6) pol in Oct.
