chased leading trio untill 9th, soon behind
hit 1st, always behind
made all, hung left on bend approaching 7th, stayed on strongly from last, ridden out
tracked leaders, went 2nd 9th until 4 out, ridden to chase winner after 3 out, no extra from last
tracked winner until not fluent 8th, regained 2nd 4 out until after next, kept on same pace
Hobbs Hill is the one to beat and is preferred to Lead On and Wee Robbie. Charlie Egerton's charge has looked a natural over fences and has jumped brilliantly since day one and could put them to the sword over the Railway Fences. He had Silverburn and Lead On 5 and 22 lengths back respectively at Newbury in November when conceding weight and sets the standard. That was Silverburn's chase bow but Denman's brother did little at Kempton to suggest that he's capable of reversing the form though it would, of course, be folly to dismiss him given the regard in which he's held. In contrast, Lead On won his next two which included an impressive performance at Cheltenham last time and is heading in the right direction. The Market Man is talented but has a long absence to overcome on his chase bow but Wee Robbie should be all the better for his return at Ascot. He did have quite a tough race there though and this is a fairly quick reappearance but he doesn't have too much to find. Hobbs Hill has done nothing wrong however and there's no sense in searching for reasons to oppose him; Hobbs Hill is the pick.
Keepthedreamalive 14-1 (11-4) Chased leaders until 9th, kept on flat, no chance with leading pair, 3rd of 4, 22l behind Hobbs Hill (11-6) at Ascot 2m 3f nov chs Grd 2 (1) gf in Dec.
Present Oriented (USA) 18-1 (10-7) Disputed lead until mistake and lost place 6th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up at the 10th in race won by Gods Token (10-12) at Fakenham 2m 5f nov chs (3) gs in Jan, 7 ran.
Silverburn (IRE) 11-8fav (11-7) Tracked leaders, went prominent at 3rd, led 14th until next, soon ridden, kept on same pace, 3rd of 6, 8l behind Joe Lively (11-7) at Kempton 3m nov chs Grd 1 (1) gs in Dec.
The Market Man (NZ) 2-1jt-fav (11-4) Chased leaders, led approaching last, soon ridden, headed last strides, 2nd of 6, hd behind Mighty Man (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hdl (B) gs in Dec '05.
Wee Robbie 7-2 (11-0) Tracked clear leaders, mistake 6th, ridden approaching 3 out, stayed on under pressure to lead close home, won at Ascot 2m 1f nov chs Grd 2 (1) sft in Jan beating Mahogany Blaze (11-7) by a nk, 6 ran.
Hobbs Hill 2-11fav (11-6) Made all, stayed on strongly from 2 out, won at Ascot 2m 3f nov chs Grd 2 (1) gf in Dec beating Battlecry (11-0) by 8l, 4 ran.
Lead On (IRE) 7-2 (11-7) Tracked leader, led 4th, headed approaching 8th, led again 12th, jumped right 4 out, ridden last, ran on, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov chs Grd 2 (1) gs in Jan beating Predateur (10-9) by 2l, 5 ran.
