held up in rear, hampered 8th, hampered 12th, left 2nd 6 out, chased leading pair after 5 out, weakened after 4 out
always close up, reminder 5th, led after 10th, headed before 11th, left in lead after 12th, ridden before 4 out, hit 2 out, kept on, driven out
held up in touch, led before 11th, stumbled and fell after 12th
with leader, led before and mistake 10th, reminders and headed soon after, weakened from next, tailed off when pulled up after 5 out
held up towards rear, disputing 5th when fell 8th
led, headed before 10th, hampered 12th, chased winner after 5 out, ridden before 2 out, kept on and held towards finish
Canal Bank has undoubtedly improved this season and beat a decent yardstick at Exeter last month. Only 6lb higher here, he can't be discounted while course winner La Pantera Rosa had WORK BOY and Blazing Diva behind when scoring at Doncaster 12 days ago. On 4lb better terms, there are grounds for thinking that Sue Smith's charge will have his revenge today, however, with this slightly slower ground also in his favour. Seize hasn't raced since finishing a long way behind La Pantera Rosa at Kelso in October but still makes more appeal than Shrewd Investor, who looks a shadow of his former self nowadays.
Seize 9-1 (11-11) In rear, mistake 4th, headway approaching 3 out, ridden and weakened next, 6th of 8, 39l behind La Pantera Rosa (10-7) at Kelso 3m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Oct.
Work Boy 9-2 (11-8) Led to 3rd, tracked winner until 10th, remindered next, outpaced after 3 out, kept on towards finish, 3rd of 7, 1 1/2l behind La Pantera Rosa (11-4) at Doncaster 3m hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd.
La Pantera Rosa (IRE) 10-1 (11-4) Tracked leader and keen, led 3rd, blundered 11th, ridden approaching 2 out, held on well towards finish, driven out, won at Doncaster 3m hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd beating Quel Bruere (11-8) by 1 1/4l, 7 ran.
Blazing Diva (IRE) 16-1 (11-9) Mid-division on inside, headway and in touch 9th, outpaced 5 out, soon ridden, not fluent next, 8th and beaten when mistake 3 out, 5th of 11, 29l behind Eyre Square (11-11) at Newcastle 3m hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Nov.
Canal Bank (IRE) 6-1 (11-3) Held up in touch on outside, headway to go 2nd 4 out, challenged 2 out, soon upsides, led flat, driven out, won at Exeter 3m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Dec beating Topless (11-4) by 3/4l, 7 ran.
Shrewd Investor (IRE) 6-1 (11-7) With leader on inside early, lost place from 9th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Star Player (11-12) at Newcastle 3m hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft, 8 ran.
