on his toes, raced keenly and led, joined from 2 out, strongly pressed last, headed and not pace of winner run-in
wore hood to post, pulled hard, chased leader and clear of rest, hit 4 out, pushed along and upsides 2 out, challenged last, quickened to lead and edged left run-in, stayed on well
always behind, never a factor, tailed off
always behind, never a factor, tailed off
off the pace and never closer than mid-division, tailed off
off the pace in 4th, weakened after 3 out
well off the pace towards rear, never involved
chased clear leading pair throughout, no impression when awkward last, kept on run-in, closed on 2nd, no chance with winner
off the pace towards rear, tailed off when went badly left 3 out, plugged on
off the pace in 8th, hit 3 out, headway from 2 out, 4th and no impression towards finish, never near leading trio
off the pace in 5th, crumpled on landing and unseated rider 4 out
off the pace and always towards rear, never a factor, tailed off
held up well off the pace in rear, mistake 4th, ridden in dispute of remote 6th after 3 out, never involved
off the pace in mid-division out wide, pushed along in remote 4th home turn, never near leading trio, lost 4th towards finish
MATTERHORN has to carry 12lb extra but he has bolted up in both previous starts over course and distance. The danger is probably Go To War, a useful bumper who started odds-on for his hurdling debut at Exeter and was challenging when veering and unseating Paddy Brennan at the third last. Ballee will have come on a bundle for his third at Wincanton while Solstice Saint may do better now going jumping.
Matterhorn (FR) 4-11fav (11-9) Raced freely, made all, jumped well throughout, went clear before last, easily, won at Taunton 2m (4) gs in Nov beating Titan Discovery (11-2) by 16l, 11 ran.
Ballee (IRE) 17-2 (11-0) Held up in last trio, headway into 4th home turn, plugging on when left modest 3rd 2 out, 3rd of 9, 7 1/2l behind Meatloaf (11-0) at Wincanton 1m 7f (3) gs in Nov.
Bruce Gobbler 22-1 (11-1) Took keen hold, front rank, lost position halfway, pushed along over 6f out, detached when pulled up over 3f out, last of 9, dist behind Walks Like The Man (11-2) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f (5) hvy in Oct.
Captain Bill (IRE) 250-1 (11-3) Midfield, outpaced after 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, at Wincanton 1m 7f mdn (4) sft in Oct.
Contramar 16-1 (11-4) Midfield, outpaced before 2 out, gradually weakened, 10th of 15, dist behind Lowry's Bar (11-4) at Wincanton 1m 7f mdn (4) sft in Oct.
Ferret Jeeter 150-1 (11-0) Off the pace and always behind, pushed along and struggling after 3 out, never a factor, tailed off, 6th of 9, dist behind Meatloaf (11-0) at Wincanton 1m 7f (3) gs in Nov.
Getuptheyard (IRE) 28-1 (11-1) Held up in rear, in touch, ridden 3f out and soon well beaten, last of 4, 33l behind Kap Boy (11-1) at Chepstow 2m (4) hvy in Oct.
Go To War (IRE) 5-6fav (11-4) Jumped right and a bit slow, mid-division, not fluent 6th, headway 7th, every chance when shied left and unseated rider just before 3 out, at Exeter 2m 3f mdn (4) gd in Oct.
Heard That (IRE) 40-1 (11-0) Held up and behind, struggling when mistake 4 out, headway out wide turning in, hit 2 out, mistake last, plugged on run-in, 5th of 14, 12 1/4l behind El Saviour (11-0) at Warwick 2m (4) sft in Nov.
Sangiovese 22-1 (10-13) Close up, jumped left 1st, lost place next, ran in snatches, headway 8th, outpaced next, 6th of 11, 24 1/2l behind Emailandy (11-0) at Plumpton 2m 5f (4) gs in Nov.
Senor Diaz (IRE) 3-1 (10-10) Raced in 2nd or 3rd, challenged 6f out, led 4f out, headed entering final furlong, lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 6, 3 3/4l behind Mr Zippi (10-10) at Southwell 2m (5) gd in May.
Solstice Saint (IRE) 25-1 (11-2) Led until pushed along and headed 3f out, weakened quickly, soon behind, last of 17, 32 3/4l behind Horaces Pearl (11-9) at Wincanton 1m 7f (5) gs in Nov.
Birdhouse 150-1 (11-0) Towards rear, tailed off after 4 out, pulled up after 2 out, at Newbury 2m (2) gs in Nov.
Lady Balko (FR) 20-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders on inside, pushed along and lost place before 6th, weakened soon after, 6th of 10, 34 3/4l behind Alfie's Princess (11-7) at Exeter 2m 3f (4) gs in Nov.
