tracked leader, led 4 out, kept on well
tracked leaders, pushed along before 5 out, went 2nd before 3 out, kept on same pace
led, reminders after 5 out, headed 4 out, soon weakened
Wolf Shield won at Hexham and Southwell last year but has struggled subsequently and looks up against it again here, despite only facing two rivals. CAROLE'S DESTRIER was well backed for a Listed handicap at Ascot last month and didn't let supporters down, pulling readily clear up the straight. He should follow up dropping back into novice company as Creepy hasn't really built on a win at Chepstow last September, though will have found 2m here in January much too short.
Carole's Destrier 5-4fav (11-0) Not always fluent, led, not fluent 3rd, headed 5th, chased leader, led again 9th, blundered and headed 12th, chased leader, closed to regain lead approaching 2 out, clear before last, stayed on strongly, won at Ascot 3m hcp chs Listed (1) sft in Feb beating Clondaw Knight (10-12) by 8l, 6 ran.
Wolf Shield (IRE) 9-2 (11-8) Disputed lead to 7th, in touch, lost place before 15th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before 5 out, in a race won by Sir Mangan (10-7) at Sedgefield 3m 3f nov ltd hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Jan, 5 ran.
Creepy (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) Held up mid-division, pushed along after 5 out, soon chased leaders, weakened from 3 out, 4th of 6, 34l behind Firth Of The Clyde (11-6) at Wetherby 2m hcp chs 0-150 (2) gs in Jan.
