mid-division, mistake and unseated rider 7th
towards rear, headway before 10th, held in 3rd when blundered 2 out, no impression
tracked leaders in 4th, went 2nd from 10th, led 2 out, soon clear
tracked leaders in 3rd, weakened before 11th, pulled up before 3 out
in rear, hampered 7th, headway before 4 out, went 3rd before last, no impression
tracked leader, weakened before 8th, tailed off when pulled before 2 out
Tahiti Pearl won over track and trip in January but has disappointed since. Lucky Landing has won off a higher mark but has had a few months off, though still has more recent form than Hi George and Darna. Bless The Wings has to go on the short-list having won for the first time for Gordon Elliott over hurdles at Perth, though doesn't look as well treated back over fences. ALDERBROOK LAD finished a long way ahead of Tahiti Pearl when second to Foundation Man over this trip at Wetherby. He's only a pound higher and has already won around here so get the nod with Riskier having a first run since a second over hurdles at Kelso in May.
Hi George 12-1 (11-0) Jumped well, chased leader, led 8th, driven flat, strongly pressed close home, kept on gamely, won at Catterick 2m 3f beg chs (4) gd in Dec beating Holywell (11-0) by hd, 9 ran.
Bless The Wings (IRE) 11-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, led 3 out, headed before 2 out, regained lead soon after 2 out, kept on, driven out, won at Hexham 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Oct beating Solway Sam (9-8) by 1 1/4l, 9 ran.
Darna 11-1 (11-8) Raced wide in touch, outpaced 4 out, struggling when mistake 2 out, 7th of 11, 32l behind Bless The Wings (11-2) at Wetherby 2m 4f listed hcp chs (1) gs in Nov '12.
Tahiti Pearl (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Led 2nd, headed 4 out, mistake 2 out, weakening when mistake last, last of 7, 33l behind Foundation Man (11-4) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Oct.
Lucky Landing (IRE) 11-2 (11-10) Tracked leader to 3rd, held up in 3rd, not fluent and lost place 6th, soon behind, no danger after, tailed off 2 out, last of 5, well behind Chalk It Down (11-8) at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Aug.
Alderbrook Lad (IRE) 9-2 (10-10) Led, jumped right and not fluent 1st, headed next, stayed handy, blundered 11th, no impression on winner when 2nd from after 2 out, stayed on flat, 2nd of 7, 4l behind Foundation Man (11-4) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Oct.
Riskier 20-1 (11-5) Chased leaders in 3rd, chased winner from 3 out, kept on and held towards finish, 2nd of 13, 1 3/4l behind Silver Gent (11-6) at Kelso 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in May.
