held up towards rear and keen, reminders after 7th, hit 5 out, soon weakened
in rear, hit 7th, soon pushed along, struggling from next
with leader early, tracked leader until 8th, lost place after 9th, kept on to take 3rd before last, no impression
held up towards rear on outer, pecked 3rd, chased leaders 6th, mistake and led 5 out, clear before next, eased towards finish, readily
led, headed 5 out, ridden and outpaced before 4 out, regained 2nd before last, kept on, no chance with winner
chased leaders in 3rd, hit 6th, went 2nd from 8th, not fluent 5 out, chased winner before next but always looking well held, hit 2 out, soon weakened
Recent worthwhile form is thin on the ground here and the puzzle is further complicated by the fact that PANTHERS RUN and Apache Brave both race from out of the handicap. The former was also wrong in the weights when third at Sedgefield in November, however, but still finished ahead of the disappointing Go On Be A Lady. On similar terms, the 11-year-old can confirm the form and is a tentative choice to land this ordinary contest. Carryduff has failed to complete in five of his nine starts since winning at Towcester in 2008, while be Qbuster and Allanard are making their debuts over the larger obstacles- this isn't an easy course for those who lack experience.
Qbuster (IRE) 22-1 (11-7) Held up mid-division on outer, weakened from 8th, 12th of 14, well behind Too Cool To Fool (11-0) at Newcastle 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft.
Carryduff 40-1 (9-9) Held up in rear, pushed along approaching 14th, never dangerous, 11th of 14, well behind Star Beat (10-11) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Dec.
Go On Be A Lady 50-1 (10-7) Always in rear, well behind final 9f, tailed off, last of 11, well behind Palomar (11-0) at Southwell 2m Nat Hunt Flat (5yo+) (AWT) (4) std in Dec.
Allanard (IRE) 7-1 (11-1) Held up towards rear, headway to chase leaders 4 out, weakened last, 7th of 15, 13l behind Too Cool To Fool (11-3) at Ayr 3m nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs.
Panthers Run 14-1 (10-4) Held up mid-division, lost place approaching 7th, pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Dark Gentleman (10-12) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-90 (5) sft, 10 ran.
Apache Brave (IRE) 28-1 (10-0) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 6th, lost place after 5 out when outpaced, plugged on to take 4th last, no impression, 4th of 8, 11l behind Do It For Dalkey (11-6) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft.
