made all, ridden after 3 out, kept on well from last
mid-division, headway to chase leaders 7th, chased winner next, kept on last no impression
tracked leaders, hit 3rd, ridden and outpaced approaching 3 out, kept on no impression from next
held up mid-division, headway to chase leaders approaching 3 out, weakened from 2 out
in touch, lost place after 6th
towards rear, outpaced 6th, headway 4 out, stayed on from 2 out
always towards rear
in touch, weakened approaching 3 out, pulled up before last
pushed along in rear, not fluent throughout, behind when fell 5 out
tracked winner, ridden approaching 8th, weakened approaching 4 out, pulled up before next
Grand Slam ,Vulcan Lane and Pavey Ark are three against the field in a wide open affair and the tentative vote is given to Grand Slam. The selection was a fair third behind Moor Spirit last time. That form looks rock solid in the context of this race and off the same mark here he looks the value bet. Vulcan Lane rates the main danger on his latest third behind Star Trooper but that was in a selling hurdle and he looks high enough in the weights on his return to chasing and looks opposable on that basis. Pavey Ark is another that could go well but he gave the impression he would be suited by a longer trip when fourth behind Bergerac and he is overlooked here. Of the remainder Little Flora is game and consistent and is sure to run her race but she is hard to win with and for the winner we return to Grand Slam.
Flaming Heck 14-1 (10-8) Led, mistake 6th, blundered next, blundered 10th, ridden approaching 4 out, headed next, weakened after 2 out, 4th of 9, 33l behind Sound Of Cheers (11-9) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy.
Vulcan Lane (NZ) 8-1 (10-11) Held up, headway to chase leaders 5th, chased leader from 2 out, one pace, 3rd of 16, 6l behind Star Trooper (10-10) at Sedgefield 2m 1f cnd sll hcp hdl (5) sft.
Saxon Mill 25-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway to 7th, effort next, never on terms, 6th of 12, 47l behind Oscatello (11-0) at Market Rasen 2m 3f mdn hdl (F) gs in Dec.
Nomadic Blaze 12-1 (10-12) Held up in touch, lost place from 9th, ridden 14th, soon beaten, 5th of 6, 28l behind Magnificent Seven (11-5) at Musselburgh 3m nov chs (4) gf.
Little Flora 6-1 (9-12) Led, headed 7th, remained close-up, outpaced after 4 out, 4th of 8, 20l behind Moor Spirit (11-8) at Kelso 2m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs.
Grand Slam (IRE) 16-1 (10-1) Tracked leaders, pushed along 4 out, outpaced next, rallied after last, 3rd of 8, 13l behind Moor Spirit (11-8) at Kelso 2m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs.
Ipledgeallegiance (USA) 40-1 (11-2) In touch until weakened 5 out, tailed off, 5th of 9, well behind Armaguedon (11-2) at Newcastle 2m nov chs (3) sft.
Gaucho 40-1 (10-7) Mid-division, headway to go prominent approaching 6th, led 4 out, ridden and headed 2 out, kept on from last, 3rd of 9, 4 1/2l behind Bob's Buster (11-12) at Newcastle 2m hcp chs 0-90 (5) sft.
Political Cruise 100-1 (10-9) Behind, 6th of 7, 50l behind Iron Man (10-7) at Carlisle 2m nov chs (3) hvy.
Pavey Ark (IRE) 12-1 (9-11) Tracked leaders, hit 7th, stayed on from 2 out, no impression, 4th of 10, 15l behind Bergerac (11-7) at Catterick 2m hcp chs 0-105 (E) gd in Nov.
