held up in touch, hampered 4th, chased winner from 6th, reminders after 11th, no impression from 15th
chased leaders, left 2nd at 4th, left in lead 6th, clear from 14th
chased leader, fell 4th
led until fell 6th
in rear, went poor 3rd at the 6th, struggling halfway, tailed off
held up towards rear, in poor 4th when hampered by loose horse and unseated rider after 6th
held up, reminders 10th, soon struggling
BELON GALE is our selection with Tank Top and North Island put up as the alternatives. Howard Johnson's team have had a fantastic month and the term future chaser has applied to this five-year-old. A winner of an Irish point, he put up a fair effort in defeat at Newcastle and can build upon that here. Tank Top finished a remote second in a Cheltenham event. He plugged on dourly without ever threatening to win it. North Island is unproven on the surface. Ferdy Murphy has two in though Ajay has the apparent first string tag by virtue of Graham Lee's presence. Mitchel Henry is rated 70 so really should not be good enough. The remainder seem very difficult to make cases for if racecourse evidence is anything to go by.
Ajay (IRE) 12-1 (11-11) Always behind and pulled up 4 out in race won by Bow School (11-9) at Musselburgh 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf in Nov, 13 ran.
Belon Gale (IRE) 14-1 (11-3) Held up, headway 11th, ridden 3 out, stayed on after last, 3rd of 11, 3 1/2l behind Mill Side (10-10) at Newcastle 2m 4f beg chs (4) gd in Oct.
Pre Token 33-1 (10-10) Held up in rear, blundered 11th, struggling when mistake and unseated rider 4 out in race won by Cast Iron Casey (11-1) at Sedgefield 2m 4f beg chs (4) sft in Nov, 11 ran.
Tank Top 66-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, outpaced after 12th, distant 4th 3 out, left 3rd last, went 2nd flat, no chance, 2nd of 7, 24l behind Shining Gale (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 4f nov chs (2) sft in Nov.
The Artful Fox 20-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, pushed along and struggling when mistake 12th, 4th of 8, well behind Go West (11-0) at Southwell 3m 2f nov chs (4) gd in May.
Treehouse 100-1 (11-1) Always behind, 7th of 11, 39l behind Cast Iron Casey (11-1) at Sedgefield 2m 4f beg chs (4) sft in Nov.
Turbulent Flight 100-1 (10-4) Always towards rear, 10th of 16, 43l behind Little Shilling (11-13) at Musselburgh 3m cnd hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gf in Nov.
Mitchel Henry (IRE) 3-1jt-fav (9-10) In touch, outpaced 3 out, soon ridden, stayed on under pressure to go 3rd after last, no impression, 3rd of 11, 5l behind Shulmin (10-12) at Sedgefield 3m 3f cnd hcp chs (5) sft in Nov.
North Island (IRE) 20-1 (11-2) Held up mid-division, tracked leaders after 14th, blundered last, kept on, 4th of 9, 3l behind Kate's Gift (11-2) at Leicester 2m 7f mdn chs (4) sft.
