tracked leaders, blundered 5th, ridden before last, soon switched right, one pace
in rear and in touch until weakened and hit 4 out
tracked leader, joined leader from 6th, ridden before 2 out, led before last, kept on well
led, ridden before 2 out, headed before last, kept on same pace
Nonrunner
SALDEN LICHT was beaten less than a length by Vulcanite at Hereford last month in his first start for 18 months. On 7lb better terms, Alan King's classy recruit to chasing should reverse the form here and is much preferred to the frustrating Vino Griego, who fell when quite well backed at Ascot last time and has now had 16 attempts to break his duck over the larger obstacles. Double Or Quitz and Tchang Goon will just be making up the numbers if they others aren't let down by their jumping.
Vulcanite (IRE) Evensfav (11-0) Tracked leaders, not fluent 4th, outpaced 2 out, rallied to challenged last, soon led, comfortably, won at Hereford 2m nov chs (4) sft in Dec beating Salden Licht (11-0) by 3/4l, 7 ran.
Double Or Quitz 100-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, pushed along before 4 out, weakened approaching next, tailed off, 7th of 11, well behind Sammys Gone (10-12) at Hereford 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Dec.
Salden Licht 15-8 (11-0) Tracked leaders, not fluent 6th, mistake 4 out, led before next, joined last, soon headed, stayed on, 2nd of 7, 3/4l behind Vulcanite (11-0) at Hereford 2m nov chs (4) sft in Dec.
Vino Griego (FR) 7-2 (11-2) Chasing leaders when fell 2nd, in a race won by Ulck Du Lin (11-5) at Ascot 2m 1f hcp chs 0-140 (3) hvy in Dec, 7 ran.
Tchang Goon (FR) 8-1 (9-9) Held up, mistake 1st, headway 9th, disputing close 3rd when hit 2 out and left 2nd, beaten when hit last, 2nd of 6, 9l behind Thedreamstillalive (11-0) at Folkestone 2m 5f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Nov.