held up in touch, ridden 4 out, blundered 3 out, soon weakened
tracked leader, jumped right 7th, ridden next and lost place, pulled up before 9th
held up, headway 9th, ridden to chase leaders 4 out, weakened 3 out
led, headed and mistake 9th, weakening when mistake next, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
tracked leaders, led 10th, mistake next, ridden 3 out, kept on
tracked leaders, led briefly 9th, ridden to chase winner 3 out, mistake 2 out, pecked and held last
The Hardy Boy is selected ahead of Roaringwater and Cockspur. It's never nice to label any horse as a plodder but The Hardy Boy jumps and stays adequately and while he is not the speediest of individuals, it could be enough to land the spoils this afternoon. Roaringwater had looked on the upgrade but has questions to answer after a dire effort at Wetherby on his latest start. Cockspur is tried in first time cheekpieces and with Tony McCoy in the saddle, he couldn't have too much more encouragement if connections had tried. Native Commander is very much in the veteran class and is surprisingly tried over this trip again after previously shaping as a two-miler. Mud loving Master D'Or reserves his best for small fields and is no forlorn hope despite a welter-burden. Alderbrook Girl is much better than her latest effort and is watched in the market. This will be a dour struggle in the mud and The Hardy Boy appears best equipped.
Master d'Or (FR) 11-1 (11-10) Held up mid-division, jumped slowly 6th, soon pushed along, weakened 5 out, 8th of 12, 27l behind Obelix De Longechaux (10-8) at Newbury 2m 2f hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Dec.
Roaringwater (IRE) 6-1 (11-0) Led to 2nd, led again after 4th, headed after 7th, weakened quickly, tailed off, 9th of 11, well behind Stagecoach Opal (11-5) at Wetherby 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Dec.
Native Commander (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Held up, slipped and unseated rider at the 11th in race won by He's The Gaffer (11-9) at Fontwell 2m 6f cnd hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Dec, 9 ran.
Lucky Pete 4-1 (10-13) In touch, under pressure and outpaced 10th, soon well behind, 5th of 8, 36l behind Blakeney Coast (9-11) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-110 (E) gd in May '05.
The Hardy Boy 4-1jt-fav (10-13) Held up, headway 8th, led 4 out, soon lent on, kept on well, all out, won at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-90 (5) hvy in Dec beating Monsieur Georges (10-13) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Alderbrook Girl (IRE) 8-1 (10-6) Chased leaders to 8th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Radnor Lad (10-12) at Hereford 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Dec, 16 ran.
Follow The Bear 11-2 (11-12) Tracked leaders, mistake 8th, in rear and held when fell 2 out in race won by Fearless Foursome (11-13) at Wetherby 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Dec, 4 ran.
Cockspur (IRE) 11-1 (11-2) Towards rear, headway 9th, ridden 12th, weakened 3 out, 3rd of 10, 34l behind Chopneyev (10-8) at Hereford 3m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Dec.
