prominent, led 14th, headed 4 out, weakened 2 out
held up towards rear, headway 6th, mistake 12th, led 4 out, drew clear from 3 out, mistake 2 out, driven out
mid-division, stayed on approaching 2 out, one pace flat
jumped right, led, headed 7th, mistake 15th, blundered and weakened 3 out
held up towards rear, mistake 8th, some headway after 13th, weakened next, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, headway 5th, ridden approaching 14th, weakened last
mid-division, not fluent 4th, soon lost place, headway approaching 11th, weakened 4 out
in touch, lost place 6th, ridden after 11th, weakened approaching 14th, tailed off
held up in rear, not fluent 10th, ridden 14th, hit 16th, never troubled leaders
chased leader, led 7th, headed 14th, chased winner from 3 out, one pace
TRADING UP and Blunham Hill are the two that come into this race in form and, of the two, Andy Turnell's runner is readily preferred. Bowling Green may prove best of the remainder. Andy Turnell has started the season strongly and Trading Up already has a victory on the board thanks to his nineteen length success at Chepstow. That wasn't a strong race and he is a stone higher but he has won from a mark just a pound lower than his revised rating so hasn't been handicapped out of this by any means. Blunham Hill is just the 9lbs higher following his half-length success at Towcester and he relishes a thorough test. He's also fairly handicapped on the best of his old form and has twice made the frame here in four starts but this test might not be demanding enough. Madam Harriet has place claims but may need to drop a little in the weights before she can taste success again and Bowling Green could emerge as a bigger challenger. He was an early faller on his first start since arriving from Ireland but his yard are sure to place him to advantage sooner rather than later. He still has a bit to prove though and the claims of Tradingup appeal more.
Brumous (IRE) 9-2 (11-0) Held up, ridden 4 out, weakened from next, 5th of 8, 38l behind Wee William (11-4) at Market Rasen 3m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Aug.
Peut Etre Sivola (FR) 50-1 (10-6) Mid-division, pecked 1st, pushed along before 6th, dropped rear 9th, blundered and unseated rider at the 14th in race won by Mister Apple's (10-0) at Cheltenham 3m amt hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Oct, 15 ran.
Gumley Gale 25-1 (10-9) Held up, headway approaching 11th, soon ridden, no chance from 12th, went poor 4th 2 out, 4th of 12, 29l behind Lucky Luk (10-10) at Exeter 3m hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Oct.
Madam Harriet 15-2 (10-12) Not jumped well, prominent, ridden approaching 3 out, hit 2 out, weakening when hampered last, 6th of 11, 38l behind Harlov (11-5) at Kelso 3m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in May.
Bowling Green (IRE) 4-1 (10-12) Held up and fell at the 7th in race won by Monzon (11-8) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs in Oct, 7 ran.
Foly Pleasant (FR) 8-1 (11-5) Badly hampered and rider lost irons 2nd, not recover and pulled up at the 4th in race won by Tradingup (10-3) at Chepstow 3m 2f cnd hcp chs (5) gd in Oct, 13 ran.
Tradingup (IRE) 9-2fav (10-3) Chased leaders, joined leaders 12th, lead approaching 5 out, in command from 4 out, ridden out, won at Chepstow 3m 2f cnd hcp chs (5) gd in Oct beating Kiltimoney (11-7) by 19l, 13 ran.
Blunham Hill (IRE) 13-2 (10-5) In touch, driven to lead after 3 out, headed last, ran on gamely to lead again flat, won at Towcester 3m hcp chs 0-90 (5) gd in Oct beating Charmahal (11-11) by 1/2l, 15 ran.
Flying Jody (IRE) 14-1 (10-11) Behind when unseated rider at the 2nd in race won by Tradingup (10-3) at Chepstow 3m 2f cnd hcp chs (5) gd in Oct, 13 ran.
Kingston-Banker 5-1 (10-11) Led until 7th, prominent, left in lead 13th, headed approaching 5 out, weakened quickly and pulled up 4 out in race won by Tradingup (10-3) at Chepstow 3m 2f cnd hcp chs (5) gd in Oct, 13 ran.
