raced in 3rd, tracked leader 9th, narrow lead and hit 3 out, driven and joined last, narrowly headed soon after, rallied gamely under pressure to regain lead last stride
fell 2nd
led to 9th, chased leaders, ridden and in touch approaching 3 out, weakened from next
chased leader, led 9th, ridden and headed 3 out, weakened approaching next
held up, headway to track leaders 14th, challenged from 2 out, upsides and hit last, soon narrow lead, kept on gamely flat, caught last stride
hampered and unseated rider 1st
pecked 1st, always in rear
fell 1st
behind, hit 12th, blundered 14, headway and driven into 5th when blundered 3 out, went 3rd approaching 2 out, not reach front pair
chased leaders, blundered 8th, lost touch from 14th, tailed off
RUSTARIX and By George are the two that interest us most here with Wheres Johnny, Orphelin Collonges and Presentandcorrect next in line. Preference is for Alan King's runner who produced a workmanlike display to open his account over fences at Folkestone. He had appeared to be a slightly frustrating sort prior to that but he has had the misfortune to bump into some decent sorts and may just have benefited from being dropped in class. This is the right race for him if he's to build on that success. By George is the other runner that we'd like to have on our side as he caught the eye a couple of times over hurdles and gained a first career success when driven out to score in a chase at Huntingdon. He should prove up to winning from his revised mark but he has a bit to prove on testing ground and still has a little to learn. Wheres Johnny may come on for his chase bow behind a useful prospect, Orphelin Collonges is surely better than his run at Fakenham suggests whilst Presentandcorrect will find this easier than tackling Arkle hope Kalahari King. A few can be given chances then but none appeal as having claims as strong as our selection, Rustarix.
Rustarix (FR) 13-8fav (11-1) Tracked leading pair, shaken up 11th, went 2nd after 3 out, led 2 out, in command before last, driven and stayed on well, won at Folkestone 2m 5f nov chs (3) gd in Nov beating Turbulance (11-1) by 4 1/2l, 5 ran.
High Bird Humphrey 50-1 (11-2) Held up in 4th, went 3rd 4th until after 4 out, weakened 3 out, last of 4, 42l behind Tatenen (11-1) at Cheltenham 2m nov chs Grd 2 (1) sft in Nov.
Cape Greko 25-1 (11-6) Led to 4 out, soon ridden, slightly hampered 3 out, weakened after 2 out, 5th of 6, 27l behind Kalahari King (11-6) at Leicester 2m nov chs (3) gd in Nov.
Orphelin Collonges (FR) 5-1 (11-0) Chased leader, hit 5th, and lost 2nd place, remained in touch, ridden 14th, weakened soon after 3 out, 4th of 7, well behind Backbord (11-0) at Fakenham 3m nov chs (3) gs in Nov.
Creinch 13-2 (10-11) Held up, beaten when jumped left 4 out, tailed off, 8th of 9, 37l behind Alphabetical (11-9) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Nov.
Keepitsecret (IRE) 10-1 (11-3) Held up, headway after 13th, close 5th when mistake 4 out, soon beaten, 10th of 15, 43l behind Super Nick (11-2) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Oct.
Wheres Johnny 8-1 (11-1) Chased leading pair, ridden before 4 out, left poor 2nd 2 out, 2nd of 5, 17l behind Panjo Bere (11-7) at Plumpton 2m 4f nov chs (3) sft in Nov.
Presentandcorrect (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Tracked leader, jumped left on occasions, raced keenly, led 4 out, headed 2 out, weakened flat, 4th of 6, 11l behind Kalahari King (11-6) at Leicester 2m nov chs (3) gd in Nov.
By George (IRE) 6-1 (10-7) Mid-division, hung right for most of the way, mistake 4 out, ridden to challenge 2 out, led last, soon hung left, ridden out, won at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Nov beating Kikos (10-9) by 2l, 12 ran.
Lancaster Sound (IRE) 16-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, led 5th until 9th, ridden after 11th, weakened before next, 5th of 6, well behind Buck The Legend (11-4) at Exeter 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Nov.
