held up off the pace in 4th, closer at entrance to back straight final circuit, close 3rd omitted 5 out, ridden and outpaced after omitted next, weakened before next where bad mistake, tailed off
led at strong pace but pressed, headed 3rd, reminders and lost 2nd omitted 5 out, weakened quickly, tailed off
pressed leader and clear of field, led 3rd, pushed along and headed before 3 out, well held when mistake and lost 2nd at the last, weakened run-in
held up off the pace in last pair, mistake 3rd, headway omitted 4 out, pushed along in 3rd before 3 out, ridden and dropped to 4th between last two, staying on in 3rd again when stumbled badly last
held up off the pace in last pair, closer omitted 4 out, 3rd between last two, went 2nd at the last, stayed on same pace run-in, never reached challenging position
off the pace in 3rd, closer entrance to back straight last circuit, went 2nd omitted 5 out, led before 3 out, clear next, stayed on strongly (all four fences in back straight omitted due to low sun, six fences jumped in total)
Midnight Midge was a lucky winner here four weeks ago but he can race off the same mark and the form has been franked. Kauto The King may be in the handicapper’s grip while Huelgoat has been racing over longer trips but Zacony Rebel wasn’t beaten far at Wetherby after winning at Fontwell and still has scope. QUOI DE NEUF’s last win came in this race 12 months ago. He is still 4lb higher but it’s possible a return to familiar surroundings will spark an upturn, though it’s too soon to give up on Voice Of Calm as she didn’t handle heavy ground at Bangor.
Zacony Rebel (IRE) 3-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, pushed along to challenge before 2 out, ridden last, kept on flat, lost second final 110yds, 3rd of 5, 1 3/4l behind Notlongtillmay (10-13) at Wetherby 1m 7f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Kauto The King (FR) 8-1 (11-8) Led 2nd, not fluent and headed 8th, weakened before 3 out, pulled up before last, at Stratford 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Quoi De Neuf (FR) 22-1 (12-0) Chased leaders, struggling after 7th, well beaten after 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, at Taunton 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Voice Of Calm 12-1 (11-2) In touch, weakened 4 out, pulled up 2 out, at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 1f lst fll (1) hvy in Nov.
Huelgoat (FR) 11-4fav (12-0) Tracked leaders, led 12th, mistake 4 out, soon headed, beaten from 3 out, 3rd of 8, 14 3/4l behind Kayf Hernando (11-2) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Midnight Midge 85-40fav (11-9) Disputed lead until led 4 out, ridden and joined 3 out, headed next, held when left in lead at last, eased flat, won at Taunton 2m 2f hcp (4) gd in Nov beating Point Him Out (11-9) by 9l, 5 ran.
