tracked leaders, led 5 out, ridden and next, kept on same pace
made most until ridden and headed 5 out, weakened quickly, blundered 3 out, pulled up next
in rear, wide and headway 4 out, ridden to chase winner next, stayed on
raced wide close up, led 4 out, ridden and ran on
in touch, mistake 8th, headway 13th, ridden 4 out, weakened 2 out
prominent, weakened quickly after 5 out, pulled up 3 out
towards rear, struggling from 5 out, pulled up before next
tracked leaders, ridden and 4 lengths down when fell 2 out
raced wide held up, headway 4 out, ridden 2 out, kept on one pace
towards rear, pushed along 4 out, not trouble leaders
Golden Robin could make a better chaser than hurdler given her pointing background. Sidi Ismael has won twice over hurdles and should do well over fences but ALKOPOP was a progressive hurdler last season and it could be worth taking a chance on his fitness. Pennyforapound lost many lengths at the start when making his debut over fences so that run can be ignored but Present Chief appears to be going backwards. Big Nasty is 1-10 and among the most exposed while Geryville steps up to 3m for the first time having got off the mark over shorter here in October. Tallow For Coal was flattered by his margin of victory at Worcester and is 6lb higher but still has some scope.
Tallow For Coal (IRE) 10-3 (11-12) Prominent, headway to press leader 5 out, ridden to lead 3 out, pressed last, stayed on well run in, won at Worcester 2m 7f hcp (4) gs in Nov beating Jobsonfire (11-9) by 5l, 11 ran.
Big Nasty 6-1 (10-11) Tracked leader, led 6th, clear before next, reduced lead and hit 14th, headed left modest 2nd and badly hampered last, 2nd of 9, 11l behind Zhiguli (10-10) at Lingfield 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Oct.
Geryville (FR) 40-1 (10-11) Not fluent in rear early, ridden and good headway home turn, pressed leaders 4 out, led 3 out, stayed on strongly to draw clear run-in, won at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Oct beating Corran Cross (11-11) by 12l, 11 ran.
Sidi Ismael (FR) 4-1 (11-12) Midfield, headway to chase leaders 6th, awkward 8th, ridden and close up 2 out, led before last, stayed on strongly flat, won at Lingfield 2m 7f hcp (4) gs in Nov beating Whydah Gally (11-11) by 3 1/2l, 8 ran.
Onchan (IRE) 8-1 (10-7) In rear after mistake 2nd, some headway 4 out, no impression, well beaten from 3 out, 7th of 9, 31 1/4l behind Linelee King (10-11) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Pennyforapound (IRE) 7-2 (11-10) Shied at tapes, slowly away, soon mid-division, tracked leaders 8th, ridden 4 out, soon weakened, 5th of 6, dist behind Young Offender (11-7) at Chepstow 3m 2f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Present Chief (IRE) 9-2 (11-6) Held up last, hit 7th, went left next, closer in 4th at 9th, weakened 4 out, tailed off, 4th of 5, dist behind Hunny Moon (11-4) at Market Rasen 3m hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Alkopop (GER) Evensfav (11-0) Pressed leader, driven before 3 out, outpaced by leading pair 2 out, rallied approaching last, led narrowly under pressure flat, kept on but headed close home, 2nd of 10, 1l behind Ratfacemcdougall (11-9) at Hereford 3m 2f hcp (4) sft in Mar.
Golden Robin (IRE) 15-2 (11-9) Close up, pushed along 2 out, switched right after last, no extra run-in, 4th of 7, 5 3/4l behind Just Call Me Al (11-5) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Morozov Cocktail (IRE) 10-3fav (11-12) Held up behind leaders, pushed approaching 3 out, ridden in 3rd before 2 out, kept on one pace, 4th of 11, 23l behind World Trip (10-4) at Perth 3m hcp (5) gs in Apr.
