led until after 1st, chased leader until 5th, chased leading pair, went 2nd again after 3 out, pushed along before next, no chance with winner, lost 2nd between last 2, one pace
held up in touch in last trio, pushed along and went 3rd before 9th, driven and went 2nd between last 2, never any chance with easy winner
raced wide tracking leading pair, went 2nd 5th, led before 9th, came clear from 2 out, easily
held up in touch in last trio, not fluent 7th, ridden and weakened 3 out, tailed off
tracked leader until led after 1st, headed before 9th, lost 2nd after 3 out, soon beaten
in touch in last trio, weakened 10th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
An above-average claimer with the weights headed by the enigmatic Corkage, who has won over fences here in the past. Connectivity has been in action over the larger obstacles but was pulled up at Cheltenham after winning a small race at Worcester and tailed off at Stratford last time. The weights suggest Hunting Tower should be thereabouts but his best form is on a much quicker surface. NEPTUNE EQUESTER stays well and won on soft and heavy ground at Wetherby last season. He hasn't run since third over fences at Cartmel in May but, if that isn't too much of a handicap, could be the one in this.
Corkage (IRE) 20-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, losing place when mistake 9th, weakened approaching 3 out where not fluent, tailed off, 7th of 13, well behind Arctic Court (10-13) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Apr.
Neptune Equester 7-1 (11-8) Prominent, led after 2nd, headed 11th, ridden 14th, weakened 4 out, went remote 3rd last, 3rd of 13, 38l behind Posh Bird (10-0) at Cartmel 3m 6f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in May.
Connectivity (IRE) 8-1 (11-5) Prominent on outside, outpaced after 12th, weakened 3 out, tailed off, 7th of 10, well behind Midnight Prayer (11-3) at Stratford 2m 7f nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Oct.
Kauto The Roc (FR) 8-1 (10-13) Prominent early, tracked leaders, pecked 10th, weakened before 3 out, 7th of 14, 29l behind Or d'Oudairies (10-7) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd in May.
Noble Witness (IRE) 40-1 (11-7) Led until before 8th, weakened after next, tailed off, 11th of 12, well behind Dom Lukka (11-3) at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Oct.
Nomadic Dreamer 100-1 (10-5) Held up in rear, not always fluent, some headway 5 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 7th of 8, well behind Pantxoa (11-5) at Chepstow 3m (3) gd in Oct.
Hunting Tower 8-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear but in touch, headway 5 out, soon chasing leaders, kept on same pace, 3rd of 7, 7l behind Beeves (11-4) at Carlisle 2m 4f nov chs (4) gd in Oct.
