jumped well, ridden and joined last, strongly pressed flat, stayed on gamely to assert final 100 yards
chased winner, lost 2nd 2 out, soon one pace, kept on again flat to press for modest 3rd
held up in last trio, headway approaching 17th, went 2nd 2 out, challenged and upsides last, every chance flat, no extra and held final 100 yards
took keen hold tracking leading pair, blundered 13th, not pace of leading duo between last 2, kept on to hold 3rd flat
tracked leaders, hit 8th, went 3rd 15th, close enough when slight peck 3 out, pecked again 2 out, ridden and no extra between last 2
held up in touch in 5th, not fluent 13th, headway 14th, outpaced 2 out, rallied under pressure flat, not pace to threaten
not fluent in rear, reminders after 9th, fell 18th
not fluent, took keen hold, held up in touch, hit 12th, driven along and outpaced after 4 out, no chance after
Fine Parchment just lasted home over course and distance last month but may struggle to complete his hat-trick off a 5lb higher mark. Coole River had a bit more in hand than the official margin of victory suggests at Taunton but the third has let the form down since and this stiffer course will test his stamina. TOP DANCER carries a penalty for last week's victory at Newbury but Jamie Codd never had to get serious on Warren Greatrex' stayer on the Berkshire course and he should have no trouble confirming that form with fifth Milarrow. He gets the nod with Monkerty Tunkerty still looking too high in the weights and Merrion Square well below par when returning from a break at Chepstow.
Fine Parchment (IRE) 14-1 (11-5) Pressed leader, led 5th, jumped left 3 out and when clear 2 out, all out, won at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Nov beating Gorgehous Lliege (10-4) by 1 1/4l, 7 ran.
Monkerty Tunkerty 16-1 (10-7) Held up, headway 6th, lost place 8th, ridden 13th, weakened 15th, 11th of 18, 46l behind Storm Survivor (10-1) at Uttoxeter 3m 2f lstd hcp chs (1) gd in Jun.
Merrion Square (IRE) 14-1 (10-11) Rear of mid-division, headway and pushed along in 6th when blundered 5 out, weakened next, 11th of 14, 39l behind Al Co (11-0) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-150 (2) gd in Oct.
Coole River (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Tracked leader, challenged going well 3 out, led 2 out, kept on strongly, won at Taunton 2m 7f nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Nov beating Bertie Boru (11-1) by 2l, 8 ran.
Savant Bleu (FR) 20-1 (11-3) Towards rear, mistake 4th, headway 16th, went 4th after 18th, weakened and eased approaching 3 out, poor 6th when pulled up before next, in a race won by Standing Ovation (10-0) at Wincanton 3m 3f hcp chs 0-140 (3) gd in Oct, 12 ran.
Top Dancer (FR) 15-8fav (11-1) Tracked leading pair, pecked 8th, went 2nd before 4 out, led approaching 2 out, clear last, stayed on strongly, won at Newbury 3m 2f am hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Nov beating Susquehanna River (10-10) by 3l, 6 ran.
Milarrow (IRE) 5-1 (10-11) Tended to jump right, chased leaders, pecked 1st, pushed along after 17th, weakening when mistake 4 out, jumped right final 3, 5th of 6, 24l behind Top Dancer (11-1) at Newbury 3m 2f am hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Nov.
Wood Yer (IRE) 14-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders until before 6th, 15th of 17, well behind Ballyculla (11-8) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) sft in Nov.
