held up, steady headway from 12th, left and narrow lead 14th, looked in command 2 out, weakened flat, caught last stride
tracked leading pair, hit 8th, went 2nd 13th, blundered and fell next
held up in rear, mistake 5th, weakened under pressure 13th, tailed off
never going well in rear, driven along from 6th, tailed off when refused and unseated rider 8th
led 4th to 9th, stayed chasing leaders, jumped left and reminder 13th, left chasing leading pair 14th, no chance with front pair from 3 out, lost poor 3rd flat
tracked leaders in 4th, led 9th, blundered and fell 14th
behind, steady headway from 8th, ridden and staying on to dispute 3rd when left 2nd at 14th, driven and looked held 2 out, stayed on run in to lead last stride
led to 4th, stayed pressing leader until 9th, chased leaders, ridden and outpaced 4 out, kept on to take poor 3rd flat
Happy Shopper gets the confident vote here with Ebony Jack and Tallow Bay rating the main dangers. The selection won with a little in hand last time out when beating Motcombe and although he has a penalty for that win he looks a progressive type and he is taken to win again under conditions that suit. Ebony Jack is another that will relish the conditions and he also won well last time out when beating Hazlejack, however he has never won off a mark this high before and he looks opposable on that basis. Tallow Bay has won his last two races in good style but this looks more competitive and he is another that may be weighted up to his best now. Of the remainder Sarahs Quay won well last time out but she had an easy lead last time and that does not look likely here and she looks opposable on that basis and for the winner we return to Happy Shopper.
Spring Grove (IRE) 18-1 (10-5) Mid-division, ridden and lost place after 8th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out pulled up 3 out in race won by Our Armageddon (11-2) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp chs (2) hvy, 13 ran.
Happy Shopper (IRE) 9-4fav (10-9) Disputed lead, made rest from 3rd, clear approaching 3 out, ridden and not fluent 2 out, stayed on well, won at Lingfield 3m hcp chs 0-110 (4) hvy beating Motcombe (10-13) by 5l, 6 ran.
McSnappy 11-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, ridden approaching 8th, weakened after next, 5th of 9, well behind Dickie Lewis (9-13) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp hdl 0-100 (F) hvy in Dec.
Surefast 6-1jt-fav (10-10) Always behind, tailed off and pulled up at the 8th in race won by Blunham Hill (10-5) at Towcester 2m 6f hcp chs 0-120 (D) sft in Nov, 11 ran.
Ebony Jack (IRE) 11-2 (9-11) Mostly jumped well, made all, clear 3 out, hit 2 out, stayed on strongly, won at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp chs 0-110 (4) hvy beating Hazeljack (10-5) by 4l, 9 ran.
Sarahs Quay (IRE) 100-1 (10-7) Made all, ridden approaching last, stayed on well flat, won at Sedgefield 2m 5f mrs nov chs (4) hvy beating Ornella Speed (10-13) by 7l, 11 ran.
Tallow Bay (IRE) 8-1 (10-2) Behind, good headway to track leading pair before 10th, led 15th, clear after 3 out, kept on strongly, won at Folkestone 3m 1f hcp chs 0-90 (5) gs beating Up The Pub (11-4) by 7l, 14 ran.
Dun Locha Castle (IRE) 12-1 (11-7) Led 2nd to 11th, led 13th to 15th, weakened after 3 out, 5th of 14, 15l behind Tallow Bay (10-2) at Folkestone 3m 1f hcp chs 0-90 (5) gs.
