with leader, led 3rd, headed 6 out, ridden approaching 3 out, close 3rd and held when fell heavily last
held up in touch, mistake 7th, ridden and headway approaching 3 out, one pace and no impression from next
led to 3rd, led again 6 out, hit next, ridden approaching 3 out, mistake and headed 2 out, one pace
tracked leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, led 2 out, driven out
prominent, ridden and every chance 3 out, kept on from last, no extra towards finish
tracked leaders, outpaced from 5th
Conditions are right here for Itsuptoharry to get back to winning ways, with Amarula Ridge and Jimmy Bond the likely main dangers. The topweight is no good thing, but he does go well at two miles and on soft ground, as evidenced by his win at Uttoxeter in the spring. He wasn't far away last time out at Haydock, and can go one better here. Amarula Ridge is a worry. He won at Doncaster on decent ground last time out, but has handled some cut in the past, and Mick Fitzgerald is an interesting booking for the Philip Hobb's trained southern raider, so we expect him to go close. with his penalty. Jimmy Bond drops back in trip here after a 2m 4f soft ground win at the track last time. He is also interesting, but has to prove he can cut it over the minimum trip and is just opposed. Of the remainder, Albertino Lad makes some appeal with his yard being in great form, but we will stick with Itsuptoharry to defy topweight.
Itsuptoharry (IRE) 16-1 (11-7) Held up, headway 4th, led after 4 out, 3 lengths clear last, soon ridden, headed 100 yards from finish, no extra, 2nd of 10, 3 1/2l behind Another Native (10-9) at Haydock 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-120 (D) sft in Dec.
Amarula Ridge (IRE) 9-4 (10-8) Mid-division, headway 4 out, left in lead next, blundered last, ridden and kept on flat, won at Doncaster 2m mdn chs (D) gd in Dec beating Dictator (10-8) by 2l, 8 ran.
Loulou Nivernais (FR) 5-4fav (11-6) Led, headed approaching last, no extra flat, 3rd of 8, 6l behind Longdale (11-9) at Sedgefield 2m hcp chs 0-105 (E) sft in Dec.
Vigoureux (FR) 12-1 (11-3) Tracked leader, blundered and badly hampered 3rd and carried out at the 3rd in race won by Bishop's Bridge (11-0) at Market Rasen 2m 1f nov chs (D) gs in Dec, 5 ran.
Albertino Lad 20-1 (11-1) Tracked leader, left in lead 6th, headed 2 out, soon weakened, 3rd of 8, 19l behind Shares (10-8) at Ayr 2m beg chs (D) sft in Dec.
Jimmy Bond 11-4fav (10-2) Tracked leaders, ridden to lead 3 out, driven out, won at Wetherby 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-110 (D) sft in Dec beating Assumetheposition (10-6) by 5l, 7 ran.
Another Club Royal 4-1 (10-5) Held up, in touch, effort after 3 out, weakened approaching last, 4th of 7, 19l behind Sharp Belline (11-11) at Kelso 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-100 (E) gs in Nov.
