mid-division, pushed along after 5th, lost place from next, tailed off
mid-division, went 2nd 6th, ridden approaching 2 out, led flat, ridden out
tracked leaders, ridden along after 4th, outpaced 6th, stayed approaching last
held up in rear, weakened after 7th
led, ridden approaching 2 out, headed flat, one pace
tracked leader, ridden after 3 out, weakened next
always towards rear, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before last
in rear, pushed along after 4th, struggling from 6th, tailed off
mid-division, headway when mistake 3 out, weakening when not fluent last
The short list here consists of General Alarm, Top Style and Gabor, with the selection being General Alarm. General Alarm comes here in the form of his life, as his Hexham romp last time can testify. Connections are looking to make the most of a more-advantageous hurdling mark tody, and the move could well pay off. Top Style looked to be returning to form last time and you can build the case for him based on the best of his efforts of the last 12 months or so. It is hard to be sure as to how well-weighted, or otherwise, Dan's Heir and Spring Breeze are, although the latter comes here fit following a Cheltenham run, while Gabor is four pounds above a previous best winning mark, but is not ruled out of a good run in this company. High Country is now six pounds above his course and distance winning mark, while Welsh Dream is running well but is another that has to find a little bit of improvement based on career-best efforts to date, that comment also applying to another course and distance winner, My Good Lord, but Izzykeen is more out than in these days. All of which returns us to the selection, which is General Alarm.
Dan's Heir 50-1 (10-5) Always behind, 9th of 16, 35l behind Cloudy Lane (11-6) at Haydock 2m 4f nov hcp hdl (2) gs in Apr.
Gabor 4-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, pushed along approaching 7th, took moderate 3rd 2 out, stayed on, 3rd of 6, 9l behind Present Oriented (11-1) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Sept.
High Country (IRE) 11-4fav (11-8) Mid-division, driven, outpaced 3 out, never on terms, 5th of 14, 15l behind Welsh Dream (10-0) at Sedgefield 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in Sept.
General Alarm 8-11fav (10-13) Made all, soon clear, hit 5 out, unchallenged, won at Huntingdon 3m nov chs (3) gf in Oct beating Herecomestanley (10-12) by 26l, 5 ran.
Welsh Dream 12-1 (11-2) Close up, led after 3rd, ridden and headed flat, no extra, 2nd of 13, 1 1/2l behind College City (10-9) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs in Oct.
My Good Lord (IRE) 11-1 (10-7) Led, headed after 4th, one pace from 3 out, 4th of 18, 19l behind Tidal Bay (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Oct.
Top Style (IRE) 20-1 (10-1) Towards rear, outpaced 4 out, stayed on strongly flat, nearest finish, 3rd of 12, 3 1/2l behind Classic Event (11-5) at Kelso 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Oct.
Izzykeen 12-1 (11-7) In touch, went 2nd 11th, lost place 3 out, soon beaten, 4th of 13, 27l behind Flash Cummins (11-7) at Sedgefield 2m 4f nov chs (4) gs in Oct.
