held up in rear, headway approaching 4 out, ridden after last, kept on to lead final 100 yards
tracked leaders, mistake 2nd, not fluent 4th, led approaching 4 out, ridden and headed final 100 yards, kept ony
held up towards rear on outer, headway to chase leaders approaching 4 out, weakened 3 out
led and soon clear, pushed along and headed after 5 out, soon weakened
held up mid-division on outer, led after 5 out, headed approaching 4 out, every chance 2 out, kept on from last
held up towards rear and keen, chased leaders 5 out, ridden and one pace from 3 out
tracked leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened 2 out
Viable occasionally hits the right notes and he has a feasible chance though the nature of his last two runs at Huntingdon tempers enthusiasm. Elite Land is a previous course and distance winner and Dougie Costello should get the best out of one that has a fitness edge after some runs on the level. Carrietau is now 7lb higher than his last winning mark, with Prince Des Marais also respected but a little too high in the weights. DIAMOND FRONTIER receives the vote having possibly found the trip a little too far at Carlisle when reappearing on testing ground earlier this month. With a more appropriate trip and conditions to suit, a return to the winners' enclosure beckons. Riguez Dancer is a versatile sort with wins on level turf and all-weather and victories over timber and chase fences. Add to that Ferdy Murphy's record with chasers and he has to be included in calculations, but Diamond Frontier is just the preferred option.
Riguez Dancer 8-1 (11-2) Held up, headway to track leaders 4 out, ridden and kept on one pace from next, 3rd of 6, 10l behind Ursis (10-6) at Market Rasen 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft.
Diamond Frontier (IRE) 7-2fav (11-11) Tracked leaders, mistake 9th, led approaching 3 out, not fluent and soon headed, weakened 2 out, 4th of 8, 26l behind Sibenek (11-5) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) hvy.
Prince Des Marais (FR) 4-1 (11-12) Close up in 4th until dropped to 5th before 6th, effort and close enough in 4th 4 out, weakened before next, well beaten when went left 2 out, 4th of 6, 26l behind Noble Crusader (11-9) at Lingfield 2m hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft.
Carrietau 8-1 (11-4) Led, soon clear, ridden 2 out, hung right after last, headed close home, eased last strides and lost 2nd place, 3rd of 12, 1 1/4l behind Sotovik (10-7) at Carlisle 2m hcp chs 0-125 (4) gs in Oct.
Viable 12-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, pecked 1st, lost place 2nd, mistake next, no impression after, went remote 4th flat, 4th of 9, 41l behind Sunday City (11-1) at Huntingdon 2m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Oct.
Elite Land 7-1 (11-3) Held up last, nodded 4th, headway from after 4 out, challenging for well held 4th when hung left before 2 out, 4th of 7, 15l behind Classic Swain (11-10) at Newton Abbot 2m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Aug.
Pamak D'airy (FR) 7-2 (11-7) Prominent, mistake and unseated rider 2nd, in a race won by Primrose Time (10-7) at Newcastle 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs, 7 ran.