led, quickened 9th, joined 3 out, ridden next, headed soon after last, carried right flat, kept on, just held
prominent, outpaced 4 out, soon ridden, left 3rd when hampered 2 out, no impression
in touch, not fluent 6th, headway to challenge 3 out, stayed on to lead soon after last, ridden and edged right flat, just held on
held up, headway and in touch 11th, effort 4 out, outpaced when blundered next, soon beaten
held up in touch, effort 4 out, challenged next, staying on and every chance when fell heavily 2 out
Disappointingly just the five runners line up for this novices' chase but there is plenty of quality among the quintet with the trio of WILL BE DONE, Companero and Skippers Brig all in winning form of late and the first mentioned gets the vote. Don McCain's gelding has shown improved form for the switch to chasing winning his last four starts, latterly when successful in good fashion in a decent looking contest at Haydock and a reproduction of form shown that day may well suffice. The Philip Hobbs-trained Kornati Kid looks to be going the right way judged by his success at Exeter last month and he has to be considered but needs to improve to trouble the selection, while Ferdy Murphy's Poker De Sivola is capable but looks booked for a place at best. Len Lungo's Skippers Brig has shown improved form of late and there could be more to come from him but he is not certain to appreciate the longer trip today and a bigger threat is likely to come form Howard Johnson's Companero. The nine-year-old has won his last five starts and he has every chance of making it six on the bounce in receipt of 3lbs from Will Be Done but Don McCain's gelding is the form horse of the race and he is preferred, despite having to give weight away all round.
Will Be Done (IRE) 11-4 (11-4) Made all, blundered 3 out, stayed on well flat, won at Haydock 2m 4f nov chs Grd 2 (1) sft beating Tartak (11-4) by 4l, 6 ran.
Companero (IRE) 4-9fav (11-5) Close up, blundered 5th, 6 lengths down and driven 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on under pressure to lead towards finish, won at Ayr 3m 1f nov chs (3) sft beating Quws Law (11-5) by 3/4l, 4 ran.
Kornati Kid 13-8fav (11-0) Chased leader, led 10th, shaken up 4 out, went clear 2 out, pushed out, won at Exeter 3m beg chs (3) sft in Dec beating Theatre Dance (11-0) by 7l, 7 ran.
Skippers Brig (IRE) 15-8fav (11-5) Held up, headway 9th, led and hit last, stayed on well, won at Carlisle 2m 4f nov chs (3) hvy in Dec beating Chief Dan George (10-13) by 1 1/2l, 11 ran.
Poker De Sivola (FR) 14-1 (11-10) Held up in rear, steady headway from 13th, chased leaders from 2 out, stayed on to chase winner flat, closing at finish, always just held, 2nd of 13, nk behind Shouldhavehadthat (11-9) at Newbury 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Dec.
