with leader, led 8th, made rest, clear when jumped left from 2 out, driven out, comfortably
held up, headway and in touch 9th, driven and effort approaching 3 out, kept on same pace, no impression
held up on outside, headway 9th, kept on same pace from 3 out, never near leaders
led, headed 8th, lost place after 4 out, beaten when jumped left from 3 out
tracked leaders, went 2nd after 4 out, kept on same pace from next, no chance with winner
in touch, blundered 3rd, lost place 9th, soon behind
mid-division, lost place 5 out, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders, mistake 2nd, lost place 4 out, soon weakened, behind when jumped left 2 out
chased leaders, lost place 5 out, soon ridden and outpaced, weakened after next
always behind
Dream Falcon fell too early on to know whether he would have been involved at the finish at Wincanton last time but he is probably best watched today with a better bet looking to be SAGALYRIQUE, who gets the vote ahead of Take It There. Alistair Lidderdale's gelding comes into this in good from having won each of his last two starts in handicaps at Market Rasen in testing ground and he has to be respected but a 9lb rise for the latest of those wins makes this more difficult and he may have to settle for minor honours. Phar Again will not mind the ground but may be too high in the weights and of more interest may be Obelix De Longechaux. Noel Chance's gelding looked beaten before refusing and unseating his pilot at Newbury recently but he is better than he showed that day and has ground conditions to suit. Mister Wiseman ran better at Exeter last time but would prefer faster ground and a better bet looks to be Sagalyrique. Alan King's gelding was narrowly beaten behind Only Dreams at Wincanton last time and he has solid claims of going one better today off the same mark.
Sagalyrique (FR) 5-2 (11-12) Tracked leading pair, left in lead after 5th, narrowly headed when blundered 7th, chased winner after, pushed along before 3 out, 4 lengths down and driven last, rallied well as winner idled flat, just held, 2nd of 5, nk behind Only Dreams (10-9) at Wincanton 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Nov.
Take It There 7-2 (11-12) Held up, tracked leaders 7th, led after 4 out, clear approaching last, eased towards finish, won at Market Rasen 2m 4f hcp 0-100 (4) sft in Nov beating Legends Lass (11-4) by 4l, 7 ran.
Quentin D'ex (FR) 8-1 (11-1) Led, hit 4th, headed 3 out, soon weakened, 6th of 8, well behind Sparrow Hills (10-12) at Southwell 2m 4f NH mdn hdl (5) gd in Mar.
Dream Falcon 20-1 (11-0) Pulled hard in mid-division, fell 3rd, in a race won by Master Somerville (11-5) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Nov, 11 ran.
Mister Wiseman 14-1 (11-5) Held up, headway after 7th, lost place approaching 4 out, rallied 3 out, stayed on same pace last, 3rd of 8, 3l behind Young Albert (11-9) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Oct.
Sninfia (IRE) 66-1 (10-12) Never nearer than mid-division, behind from 10th, tailed off, 12th of 15, 48l behind Nikos Extra (11-4) at Folkestone 2m 5f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Nov.
Obelix De Longechaux (FR) 20-1 (10-0) Behind, blundered 10th, tailed off when refused and unseated rider 3 out, in a race won by Exmoor Ranger (11-5) at Newbury 2m 6f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Nov, 14 ran.
Captain Marlon (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) In touch, mistake 5th, ridden 3 out, weakened next, 7th of 13, 13l behind Delcombe (10-5) at Wincanton 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) hvy.
Go Johnny Go (IRE) 20-1 (10-8) In touch, ridden and lost place 4 out, soon behind, 7th of 8, 44l behind Carrickmines (11-0) at Wincanton 2m 5f cond hcp chs 0-105 (4) hvy.
Kinkeel (IRE) 11-2 (10-5) Held up in touch, weakened approaching 2 out, 3rd of 5, well behind Ayemdee (11-9) at Towcester 2m 6f cnd hcp chs (0-95) (5) hvy in Nov.
Phar Again (IRE) 17-2 (11-5) Prominent, went 2nd 5th, led 11th, headed approaching 2 out, hung left and weakened flat, 3rd of 6, 8l behind Bennynthejets (11-4) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Nov.
