held up towards rear, headway after 12th, blundered 4 out, not recover, pulled up before 3 out
made virtually all, jumped left from 9th, ridden 3 out, jumped badly left 2 out and last, stayed on gamely flat
chased leader, headway and joined leader 13th, ridden 4 out, kept on from 2 out, not pace of winner
in touch, ridden 10th, headway and chased winner 4 out, kept on same pace from 2 out
in touch, headway and chased winner 13th, ridden 4 out, hit 2 out, weakened approaching last
held up in mid-division, ridden and lost touch 10th, soon behind, pulled up before 2 out
with leader, jumped big 4, ridden 9th and lost place, weakened 12th
held up last, headway and joined leaders 4th, led briefly 5th, hit 6th, lost place 7th, pulled up after 9th
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Lord Nellson has an obvious chance to follow up his recent success at Wincanton although Forever Dream and Preacher Boy represent strong opposition. Lord Nellson had some pretty inauspicious form figures prior to his win at the track over hurdles and off a BHB mark of 90 - he has to be a serious player if negotiating the larger obstacles safely. Having missed plum mounts elsewhere - Christian Williams is likely to be a man on a mission when partnering Preacher Boy. Made In Montot was a failure when Preacher Boy won his maiden start under rules but his jumping was adequate and could not be faulted. Forever Dream paid the penalty for consistency last year and looks a tricky customer. He won an appalling race at Taunton in October but there has been very little else to cheer for his backers. Lizzie Bathwick represents the yard of Paul Keane. She did not do a lot wrong at Folkestone and has to be in with a shout if reproducing that run here. Regal Bandit was always bred to be a chasing type. There was no support for him in the ring at Taunton and he will need to have come on for the run to figure in today's race. Ballyfin and Barton Hill were declared as 2nd Preference runners at the time of writing. Lord Nellson secures the nod on the proviso that he can translate his hurdles form over to the larger obstacles.
Forever Dream 14-1 (11-4) Held up, mid-division when fell at the 5th in race won by Soeur Fontenail (10-5) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (D) gd in Nov, 12 ran.
Preacher Boy 11-1 (11-0) Led to 5th, reminder 7th, led 9th, shaken up 11th, clear after 13th, unchallenged, won at Wincanton 2m 5f beg chs (D) gs beating Berengario (10-9) by 17l, 6 ran.
Regal Bandit (IRE) 12-1 (11-6) Held up towards rear, ridden 9th, soon behind, tailed off, 8th of 13, well behind Free Gift (11-5) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp chs 0-110 (E) gd.
Message Recu (FR) 40-1 (10-12) Prominent, ridden 4 out, one pace from next, 3rd of 13, 17l behind Free Gift (11-5) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp chs 0-110 (E) gd.
Lizzie Bathwick (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Held up, headway to track leaders before 9th, led 2 out, headed last, no extra, 2nd of 16, 1 1/2l behind Presenting Express (11-0) at Folkestone 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-95 (F) gd in Nov.
Princesse Grec (FR) 20-1 (11-10) In touch, lost place 8th, tailed off when pulled up at the 13th in race won by Dunbrody Millar (11-11) at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp chs 0-100 (F) sft, 11 ran.
Lord Nellsson 5-2 (11-4) Chased leader, ridden after 6th, led 7th, drew clear last, gamely, won at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-105 (E) gd in Nov beating Big Rob (11-1) by 5l, 13 ran.
Barton Hill 7-2 (11-6) Held up last, ridden approaching 13th, left poor 3rd 3 out, weakened last, 4th of 10, 27l behind dhtrs Taksina (9-4) & Eggmount (10-10) at Wincanton 2m 5f cnd hcp chs 0-105 (E) gs.
Ballyfin (IRE) 2-1fav (10-11) Held up in touch, improved into 2nd 5 out, slight mistake 3 out, led before next, strongly pressed close home, all out, won at Down Royal 2m 4f hts chs gs in Mar beating Notabadskin (11-2) by 1l, 7 ran.
