held up towards rear, steady headway 14th, went 2nd 4 out, driven from next, 1 length down last, battled on well flat, just held
tracked leading pair, went 2nd and bumped 10th, led 14th, made rest, hit 3 out, 3 lengths clear next, 1 length ahead and under strong pressure last, held on gamely, all out
chased leader until bumped 10th, stayed prominent, struggling 4 out
mid-division, hit 8th, ridden and lost place 10th, ridden and hit 4 out, rallied from next, chased leading pair 2 out, stayed on strongly flat, gaining at finish
not always fluent, made until 14th, weakened quickly next, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
in touch, ridden 13th, struggling after
chased leaders until driven and lost touch on 10th, well behind 13th, tailed off
held up in rear, headway into midfield 8th, chased leaders 4 out, under pressure in 5th when mistake and unseated rider 2 out
never travelling in midfield, ridden and hit 5th, blundered 9th, tailed off when pulled up before 14th
reluctant, soon driven along towards rear, driven and struggling 13th, plugged on under strong pressure until 3 out
Some real old plodders on view so we side with relative newcomer, FREEZE UP although Plum Pudding and Ibberton have claims on their better lines of form. David Pipe's charge had an inauspicious hurdling campaign but he was able to take advantage of the handicapping system to bolt up last time out and we take him to repeat the dose before the assessor comes with a meaty rise for those labours. Plum Pudding obliged at 25/1 in a dire event at Towcester. This is another moderate contest and he comes here in fair enough nick. Ibberton is capable though frustrating. A good run at Exeter in October was followed by a stinker next time out. The Ring has his conditions today but also has plenty of weight. Full On is an infrequent winner but has won around here before. Amoreigh did not do too much wrong when overhauled by Fourpointone at Warwick last month. Hazeljack was entitled to need his seasonal reappearance last time out. Slow motion stuff likely but Freeze Up can make another mockery of his current handicap mark.
Plum Pudding (FR) 25-1 (11-5) Towards rear, blundered 2nd, headway 9th, mistake when chasing leader 14th, led approaching 2 out, held on, won at Towcester 3m hcp chs 0-100 (4) sft in Nov beating Maori Legend (11-9) by a nk, 9 ran.
The Ring (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Raced in 4th, chased winner 8th, driven and tried to close approaching 2 out, stayed on same pace after, 2nd of 5, 4l behind Georges Boy (11-2) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Nov.
Full On 16-1 (11-9) In touch in rear, blundered 6th, lost touch from 10th, tailed off, 6th of 11, well behind Earcomesannie (10-2) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gf in Sept.
Ibberton 9-1 (10-6) Mid-division, ridden after 13th, behind and lot to do 4 out, stayed on from 2 out, went 3rd near finish, no chance with leading pair, 3rd of 18, 26l behind Mistress Nell (10-7) at Exeter 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Nov.
Freeze Up (IRE) 7-2fav (11-9) Led until 9th, stayed prominent, led approaching 3 out and in command, easily, won at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs beating Mr Big (11-5) by 11l, 13 ran.
Pavarottis Brother (IRE) 12-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, not fluent 7th, mistake 10th, ridden after 14th, stayed on to take poor 3rd 2 out, plugged on, 3rd of 6, 5l behind Spanchil Hill (10-4) at Plumpton 3m 2f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) sft in Nov.
Amoreigh (IRE) 4-1 (11-7) Soon led, driven after 3 out, already headed when blundered and unseated rider 2 out in race won by Little Shilling (10-5) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp chs 0-100 (4) sft, 10 ran.
Hazeljack 50-1 (9-9) Mid-division, headway 14th, ridden after 16th, weakened after 4 out, 10th of 16, well behind Hello Bud (11-8) at Fontwell 3m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Nov.
Walton Way 25-1 (11-2) Chased leader, mistake 8th, ridden 11th, weakened 13th, 5th of 12, well behind Flight Command (11-3) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Nov.
Zimbabwe (FR) 18-1 (9-9) Prominent, ridden 12th, weakened 14th, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Deep Quest (10-11) at Exeter 4m hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft, 14 ran.
