An interesting contest where Santando is taken to defy joint topweight and see off Valiant Shadow and Rash Moment. Peter Bowen¿s eight-year-old is racing from a career high mark of 120 here but there are reasons for optimism given how he demolished a field from 113 at Folkestone last year. Plenty of cut in the ground suits him and this trip is ideal so we¿ll side with him. The ground will also suit Valiant Shadow, on whom Alison Thorpe retains the blinkers that appeared to work well enough at Worcester last time. He just about gets home over this trip and is respected. Rash Moment hammered Mey Clouds over c&d and in these conditions last time in a race where Karen Waldron had three of the quartet of runners. The gelding handles this ground, though is happier when it is dry and we¿ll take him on in the follow up bid. Leading Article and Andrew Nick both act with cut and may get competitive, though Santando looks the one they all have to beat.
Santando 4-9fav (11-4) Hit 1st, tracked leader, challenged from 13th, led 3 out, soon clear, unchallenged, won at Folkestone 3m 1f beg chs (4) gf in Oct beating Ortega (11-4) by 21l, 5 ran.
Aleron (IRE) 11-1 (11-2) Held up mid-division, ridden 8th, kept on same pace from 3 out, 3rd of 12, 16l behind Spirit of New York (11-7) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Jun.
Valiant Shadow (GER) 11-1 (11-8) Led, ridden and headed 3 out, stayed on flat, 3rd of 11, 2l behind Levitski (11-8) at Worcester 2m 4f beg chs (4) gd in Aug.
Andrew Nick (IRE) 4-1fav (11-2) In touch, pushed along approaching 10th, weakened 14th, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Annie Fleetwood (11-3) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Aug, 10 ran.
Liverpool Echo (FR) 10-3 (10-12) With leader until approaching 15th, weakened approaching 3 out, last of 4, 33l behind Keepitsecret (11-2) at Southwell 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in Aug.
Young Lorcan 4-1 (11-7) Led until approaching 2nd, chased leader, not fluent 4th, led 12th to 13th, led 4 out until after 3 out, weakened approaching last, 3rd of 4, 23l behind Rash Moment (10-7) at Stratford 2m 7f hcp chs 0-105 (4) hvy in Aug.
Rash Moment (FR) 9-1 (10-7) Chased leaders, reminder after 9th, mistake 13th, driven from 4 out, not fluent 3 out, stayed on to lead approaching last, soon clear, won at Stratford 2m 7f hcp chs 0-105 (4) hvy in Aug beating Mey Clouds (11-12) by 15l, 4 ran.
Hasanpour (IRE) 13-2 (10-3) Held up, ridden after 7th, no chance from 9th, 5th of 6, 34l behind Genghis (11-5) at N Abbot 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Aug.
Ortega (FR) 12-1 (9-7) Chased leaders, lost place approaching 7th, tailed off when pulled up at the 10th in race won by Nelson's Spice (10-13) at Market Rasen 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Aug, 10 ran.
Leading Article (IRE) 8-1 (10-7) Towards rear, effort and headway 9th, ridden to chase winner 2 out, faded, 3rd of 14, 6l behind Different Class (10-12) at Hereford 2m 3f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd.
