took keen hold, tracked leaders, not fluent 2nd, last pair next, blundered badly 4th, mistake next, lost touch 7th, tailed off
took keen hold, held up tracking leaders, went 2nd 8th, pushed along after 3 out, driven and no impression before last
mistakes, chased winner, mistakes 3rd and 6th, blundered and lost 2nd 8th, chased leading pair, weakened 3 out
chased leaders, pushed along before 4 out, modest 3rd 3 out, well held when mistake last, no extra in 4th close home
held up, blundered 2nd, mistake next, last and struggling before 7th, tailed off when pulled up before 7th
took keen hold tracking leaders, kept on same pace from 3 out, went modest 3rd close home
made all, driven along before 2 out, kept on well flat
Keychain got back up to win at Sedgefield last month when Mac's Grey was only fourth. The latter isn't having much luck but has become expensive to follow. To The Sky is back over fences for the first time wince winning at Worcester in August but his tendency to jump right could be a problem here and the form of that race hasn't worked out. CATCHER STAR (NAP) beat Getabuzz over hurdles at Wetherby on Boxing Day last year and the runner-up won his next two. Nick Gifford's charge needed his run at Newton Abbot in August and will strip fitter here. He also looks fairly treated on his chasing bow so gets the nod.
Scales (IRE) 8-1 (11-3) Blundered 1st, held up in mid-division, headway chasing leaders approaching 3 out, ridden and stayed on same pace from next, edged left flat, 4th of 10, 12l behind Bedouin Bay (10-13) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in May.
To The Sky (IRE) 7-2 (11-12) Led, headed 3 out, pushed along before 2 out, soon led again, headed before last, soon lost 2nd place, kept on towards finish, 3rd of 7, 1 1/4l behind Saint Helena (10-8) at Southwell 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gd in Sep.
Imperial Plan (IRE) 3-1 (11-0) Held up in 4th, driven before 2 out, kept on same pace, never on terms, lost place after last, 5th of 7, 12l behind That's A Fact (11-0) at Huntingdon 2m mdn hdl (5) gd in Sep.
Keychain (IRE) 13-2 (11-4) Tracked leaders in 3rd, went 2nd from 3rd, led before 3 out, ridden before 2 out, headed last, kept on gamely to regain lead towards finish, won at Sedgefield 2m nov hcp chs 0-100 (5) gd in Sep beating Jewellery (11-12) by nk, 5 ran.
Catcher Star (IRE) 3-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders on inside, ridden before 7th, soon lost place, weakened after 3 out, went remote 3rd latter stages, 3rd of 8, 50l behind Decoy (11-7) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gd in Aug.
Mac's Grey (IRE) 15-8fav (9-9) Disputed lead, headed before 7th, led again after 4 out, clear 3 out until ridden and looked vulnerable when fell last, in a race won by Tempuran (11-9) at Southwell 2m hcp chs 0-100 (5) gd, 5 ran.
Pod 8-1 (10-0) Chased leaders, weakened after 2 out, 5th of 12, 27l behind Gizzit (10-12) at Stratford 2m 4f hcp 0-100 (5) gd.
