held up, headway 5th, lost place after 8th, headway approaching 10th, weakened before 4 out
chased leader, not fluent 2nd, mistake 7th, ridden before 8th, mistake 9th, soon weakened, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
not fluent 3rd, always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
mid-division, lost place 5th, ridden 7th, behind from 9th, tailed off
tracked leaders, challenged approaching last, ridden flat, led close home
held up towards rear, good headway 4th, led 6th to 7th, led approaching 8th, headed 3 out, regained lead 2 out, headed close home
chased leaders, lost place 4th, headway approaching 8th, weakened after 3 out, tailed off
led and soon clear, jumped slowly 1st, came back to field and jumped slowly 2nd, headed 6th, regained lead 7th until before 8th weakening when mistake 9th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
held up, headway 8th, chased leader 9th, led 3 out to 2 out, no extra flat
A toughie for punters can go the way of recent winner Loulou Nivernais although Young Lorcan and Just For Now are apparent dangers. The selection won well a fortnight ago at Wetherby on desperate ground and although he has a 6lb rise in the weights to contend with today, he is a horse in form and must have major claims. He got up the long run-in at Wetherby with no problems so today's slightly longer trip should be within his range. Young Lorcan loves it around here and must have claims, despite his hefty weight. The drop in trip today should help put a bit more sparkle into his performance, and sliding down the weights he should go well. Just For Now fell last time out when still in with every chance, and Tom George's unexposed eight-year-old should be involved today if ironing out those jumping mistakes. Papillon De Iena returns to chasing, however his selling hurdles form is nothing to get excited about, whilst Blunham Hill could go well at a price if putting his woeful last run behind him. Ultimately we will return to the horse in form, Bryan Ellison's Loulou Nivernais to lead them all home.
Young Lorcan 9-1 (11-5) Mid-division, blundered 2nd, headway 8th, ridden 9th, weakened 4 out, 6th of 10, 39l behind Zimbabwe (10-4) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy.
Papillon de Iena (FR) 6-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders, mistake 5th, lost place next, headway 3 out, soon weakened, last of 6, 41l behind Dance With Wolves (10-11) at Plumpton 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft.
Just For Now (IRE) 7-2 (10-9) Led to 3rd, chased leader after, not fluent 9th, led after 3 out, joined when fell 2 out in race won by Money Line (11-0) at Towcester 2m 6f nov chs (4) sft in Dec, 7 ran.
Blunham Hill (IRE) 8-1 (10-2) Tracked leaders, reminders approaching 12th, weakened approaching 3 out, 4th of 8, well behind Sharp Belline (10-10) at Haydock 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) hvy in Dec.
Loulou Nivernais (FR) 7-2 (10-8) Made most to 6th, tracked leader, blundered 3 out, led again next, ridden and drifted right flat, kept on, won at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy beating Once A Brownie (11-12) by 3l, 7 ran.
Cetti's Warbler 33-1 (10-11) In touch, ridden and weakened 3 out, 9th of 16, 30l behind Bannow Strand (10-6) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (D) gs in Nov '05.
Lyon 40-1 (10-13) Prominent, ridden after 13th, close 3rd when blundered last, weakened flat, 3rd of 11, 7l behind Fight The Feeling (10-2) at Ludlow 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs in Dec.
Precious Bane (IRE) 33-1 (10-8) Tracked leaders, ridden when mistake 13th, soon weakened, 9th of 12, well behind Cinnamon Line (11-2) at Warwick 3m 2f hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft.
Jaloux d'Estruval (FR) 66-1 (10-3) Mid-division, hit 8th, ridden and weakened approaching 14th, 8th of 14, well behind Kilbeggan Blade (11-7) at Haydock 3m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) hvy in Dec.
