held up, steady headway 13th, outpaced 15th, rallied 3 out, chased winner approaching 2 out, kept on flat
mid-division, mistake 4th, headway 9th, disputing 5th when fell 11th
prominent, lost place 8th, ridden after 13th, hit 15th, soon weakened
mid-division, headway after 13th, led 15th, left clear 3 out, mistake last, ridden out
prominent, mistake 5th, lost place 9th, behind when hampered 11th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
behind, effort approaching 14th, soon weakened
prominent, mistake and lost place 2nd, soon towards rear
in touch, ridden 16th, weakened approaching 2 out
mid-division, headway 10th, ridden 13th, weakened 16th
in touch, jumped slowly 3rd, lost place 7th, weakened after 13th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
behind, mistake 12th, headway after 13th, every chance when fell 3 out
always behind, mistake 2nd, tailed off when pulled up before 14th
led to 15th, ridden when left, 2nd briefly 3 out, soon weakened
prominent, hit 12th, ridden after next, soon weakened, behind when pulled up before 14th
Charming Fellow, Rebelle and Be Telling are the three to look at here and Charming Fellow is taken to step up on an improved effort last time. Formerly trained by Barney Curley, joint top weight Be Telling is still a maiden, despite several promising efforts. He has been campaigned over the smaller obstacles recently, and although he looks set to be thereabouts, he may be found wanting over this longer trip. Rebelle was off the course for over a year before returning and running three decent races, notably when staying on in good style at the finish at Exeter last time. The trip is also a question mark with him, but he is relatively unexposed and can go well. Charming Fellow ran a terrific race in defeat at Lingfield last time, staying on well but just touched off. He runs off the same mark here and this extra quarter mile can help him. Charming Fellow can lead them home.
Be Telling (IRE) 4-1 (11-9) Held up, steady headway from 6th, went 2nd approaching 3 out, soon ridden, held when hit last, 2nd of 9, 7l behind Presenting Express (11-10) at Exeter 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf in Oct.
Rebelle 7-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, led briefly 4th, led again 8th, blundered and headed 3 out, lost place and rallied well flat, 3rd of 11, 2 1/2l behind Joe Deane (11-5) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gf.
Waterberg (IRE) 50-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, lost place and behind from 3rd, 6th of 7, well behind Sungates (11-8) at Hereford 3m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gf in Oct.
Charming Fellow (IRE) 9-1 (11-12) Soon tracking leaders, chased winner and every chance from 3 out, mistake 2 out, strong challenge run-in, just failed, 2nd of 16, shd behind Honor And Glory (10-2) at Lingfield 3m nov hcp chs 0-90 (5) gs.
Hurlers Cross (IRE) 11-4fav (10-9) In touch, tracked leader 14th, led 4 out, clear next, unchallenged, won at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp chs 0-90 (F) gd in Mar '05 beating Ballybrophy (11-12) by 17l, 6 ran.
Zimbabwe (FR) 11-4fav (10-6) Chased leaders, 3rd when blundered badly and virtually fell 8th, not recover and pulled up at the 9th in race won by Cociembe (10-11) at Exeter 3m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gf in Oct, 7 ran.
Cool Song 11-4fav (9-11) Held up towards rear, headway 12th, ridden after 4 out, weakened after next, 6th of 13, 23l behind Over The Storm (10-13) at Market Rasen 3m 1f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Apr.
Tino (IRE) 12-1 (9-11) Held up in rear, ridden and headway approaching 2 out, went 2nd at last, no chance with easy winner, 2nd of 10, 15l behind Kerstino Two (11-6) at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf.
