took keen hold early, led 2nd until 9th, led again after 5 out, ridden approaching 2 out, clear when not fluent last, driven and stayed on flat
chased leaders on outside, went 2nd 5th, led 9th, pecked next, blundered 13th, headed after 4 out, weakened before next, went left last
led until 2nd, chased leaders, not fluent 5th and next, ridden after 4 out, went 3rd under pressure before next, stayed on same pace from 2 out
held up in last pair, driven along in 5th before 10th, soon no chance, tailed off when blundered 2 out
tracked leaders, pecked 10th, chased winner after 4 out, pushed along before next, kept on same pace flat
last pair, not fluent and reminders after 7th, behind and struggling after 9th, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
Nonrunner
Given CLOUDY DAWN's poor strike-rate it may not be wise to take too short a price about Sue Smith's grey in this but there are few viable alternatives. Shalamiyr, who won at Worcester in September, is conceding 24lbs and has no real form on soft ground while Jim Job Jones, Petrarchick and Radsoc De Sivola are all a long way out of the handicap. Wheelavher was in poor form before his break and Checkmate has got nowhere near under Rules so far.
Shalamiyr (FR) 8-1 (11-8) Prominent, led 3rd until 6th, led 8th, left clear on bend after next, reduced lead before 4 out, headed 3 out, weakened flat, 3rd of 10, 10l behind Drumlang (11-7) at Ludlow 2m nov hcp chs 0-100 (5) gd in Oct.
Wheelavher 20-1 (10-9) Behind, fell 3rd, in a race won by Borolee (11-7) at Southwell 3m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Jun, 12 ran.
Cloudy Dawn 7-2fav (9-11) Held up, headway and in touch 7th, chased leaders 14th, pushed along and one pace when left in 3rd 3 out, went well held 2nd 2 out, driven and stayed on flat and pressed for 2nd but not pace of winner final 100 yards, 3rd of 10, 4l behind Inandover (10-3) at Southwell 3m 2f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Oct.
Checkmate 100-1 (10-8) Towards rear, mistake 3rd, not fluent and ridden 9th, well behind next, 8th of 11, 47l behind The Nephew (12-1) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Sep.
Jim Job Jones 66-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, not fluent 4th, mistake 8th, soon ridden and behind, pulled up before 11th, in a race won by Double Silver (10-7) at Worcester 2m 7f beg chase (4) gd in May, 8 ran.
Petrarchick (USA) 20-1 (10-0) Held up towards rear, weakened from 10th, pulled up before 11th, in a race won by The Good Guy (11-4) at Stratford 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gf in Jun, 13 ran.
Radsoc De Sivola (FR) 16-1 (9-9) Led, clear 6th until 8th, pushed along after 4 out, ridden and headed 3 out, lost 2nd before 2 out, weakened and lost modest 3rd in closing stages, 4th of 5, 12l behind Molko Jack (10-6) at Southwell 2m hcp chs 0-100 (5) gs in Oct.
