chased leaders, hit 8th, not fluent 11th, weakened approaching 2 out
pressed leader, led 7th to 8th, stayed challenging, every chance 2 out, stayed on gamely, held towards finish
took keen hold towards rear, hit 12th, struggling after 4 out, tailed off
slightly hampered 1st, always behind, tailed off
held up in rear, blundered 1st, headway approaching 11th, challenged 2 out until not fluent last, no extra flat
mid-division, jumped left and blundered 1st, rider lost iron until after 3rd, beaten when mistake 3 out, pulled up before last
led, mistake 3rd, headed 7th, led 8th until not fluent 2 out, weakened last
held up in rear, stayed on approaching 2 out, never troubled leaders
chased leaders, hit 5th, led 2 out, soon ridden, headed last, no extra towards finish
mid-division, slightly hampered 1st, headway approaching 3 out, led last, driven out
badly hampered 1st, towards rear, not fluent 4th, mistake 6th jumped left and mistake next, behind when mistake 11th, pulled up before next
A decent handicap chase where Misty Dancer, Cruchain and Calusa Caldera are all considered, but NUDGE AND NURDLE is selected. Nigel Twiston-Davies has his runners in good shape at this time of year and this return to a stiff 2m 4f, after being a beaten favourite last time over shorter, looks a positive. He is 11lbs higher than when scoring at Fontwell a couple of starts back, but he has won from higher in the past and goes well on a sound surface. Misty Dancer has disappointed on his last two flat runs for Venetia Williams, but he is at least fit, has his preferred going, and has dropped to a handy mark over fences, so you ignore him at your peril. Calusa Caldera chases a hat-trick after winning at both Ffos Las and Fontwell, and trip and going suit. He is upped 7lbs for his most recent win but is not dismissed readily. Cruchain would prefer soft ground, while Le Burf was going well at Cheltenham in March before tipping up and has some very respectable form over this trip and on decent ground, so support would be interesting. Cossack Dancer and Kaldouas are both likely to have supporters of their own, but we are happy to side with Nudge And Nurdle.
Le Burf (FR) 7-1 (10-6) Led at good pace until 3rd, chased winner until 12th, weakened and jumped right from 4 out, 5th of 9, well behind Atouchbetweenacara (10-4) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs G2 (1) gd in Apr.
Double Dizzy 25-1 (11-5) Always behind, 9th of 10, well behind Toby Jug (11-12) at Wincanton 3m 3f hcp chs 0-140 (2) gd in Oct.
Cruchain (IRE) 8-1 (11-5) Held up in rear, not always fluent, mistake 8th, closed when blundered 3 out, left 3rd and slightly hampered 2 out, soon weakened, 3rd of 6, 45l behind Just Amazing (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m nov stks (2) gf in Oct.
Borora 4-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, some headway approaching 2 out, never nearer, 3rd of 7, 14l behind Commemoration Day (11-1) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gf in Oct.
Misty Dancer 9-2 (11-0) In rear, steady headway 10th, ridden next, weakened from 4 out, blundered last, 5th of 9, 45l behind King Louis (11-2) at Newbury 2m 2f hcp chs (2) gd in Apr '08.
Kew Jumper (IRE) 11-1 (10-11) Mid-division, mistake 2nd, headway 10th, went 2nd before 3 out, challenging when left in lead 2 out, driven out, won at Worcester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Oct beating Super Formen (11-7) by 2l, 10 ran.
Cossack Dancer (IRE) 14-1 (10-11) Led, jumped right 3rd, headed 6th, chased leader, every chance 2 out, one pace flat, 4th of 13, 7l behind Poquelin (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gf in Oct.
Calusa Caldera (IRE) 11-10fav (11-7) Led, headed 4 out, 3 lengths down in 2nd and looking held when left in lead last, driven out, won at Fontwell 2m 4f nov chs 0-115 (4) gd in Oct beating Denny Mac (11-3) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Kaldouas (FR) 20-1 (10-13) Led to 7th, led 11th, slight advatage when fell 2 out, in a race won by Kew Jumper (10-11) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Oct, 10 ran.
Nudge And Nurdle (IRE) 6-4fav (11-3) In touch, chased winner after last, kept on, always held, 2nd of 8, 2 1/4l behind Some Touch (11-6) at Carlisle 2m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gf in Oct.
Porters War (IRE) 6-1 (10-12) Chased leading pair, ridden to chase winner 4 out, mistake 3 out, lost 2nd before 2 out, no chance when stumbled and fell last, in a race won by Donaldson (10-12) at Stratford 2m 5f nov chs (3) gd in Jul, 7 ran.
