led to 4th, mistake and unseated rider 10th
mistake and unseated rider 1st
in touch, headway 13th, jumped slowly 4 out, ridden and chased winner approaching 3 out, kept on but always held by winner
mid-division, ridden and headway 12th, no chance from 4 out
chased leader, led 5th to 10th, weakened 13th, pulled up before 4 out
led after 4th, headed 5th, weakened 11th, pulled up before 4 out
towards rear, hit 9th and lost place, soon behind
in touch, hit 4th, pulled up after 10th
held up towards rear, fell 7th
held up, weakened and jumped badly left 11th, pulled up before 13th
mid-division, headway 7th, led 10th to 13th, soon ridden, weakened after 4 out
prominent, hit 8th, challenged 12th, led next, ridden 3 out, kept on gamely
We're going to give another chance to ONCLE KID although he clearly comes with risks attached. Paquet Cadeau and Mylord Collonges should be in the mix again. Smoke Trail could go well if back to the form that saw him win here in October whilst Alam and Farmer's Lad will be strutting their stuff in some new headgear and could improve for it. Junctiontwentyfour is only 3lbs higher than when running really well in defeat at Cheltenham and Mylord Collonges only has to defy a 9lb rise for his win at Lingfield and he looks to have further improvement in him. Paquet Cadeau is being kept busy but should be in the mix again having performed solidly at Ludlow on his latest start where he was very weak in the market. Oncle Kid is still a maiden after sixteen starts and has failed to complete on three of his last four starts so probably isn't one for the Christmas money. However, he was travelling really well when coming down at Plumpton in May and jumped noticeably well when behind Breedsbreeze at this track on his penultimate start. He clearly has an engine if he can put it all together and we're prepared to give Oncle Kid that chance.
Figaro du Rocher (FR) 40-1 (11-8) In rear, lost touch 6th, soon well behind, tailed off, 10th of 11, well behind Cheating Chance (11-2) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gf in Oct.
Paquet Cadeau (FR) 7-2fav (11-3) Tracked leader, chased winner from 4 out, no extra, 2nd of 10, 2 1/2l behind Dream Falcon (9-12) at Ludlow 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs.
Mylord Collonges (FR) 6-4fav (11-9) Tracked leaders, led going well 3 out, strongly pressed when hit next, ridden to assert flat, won at Lingfield 2m hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Nov beating Trigger Guard (11-5) by 3l, 7 ran.
Farmer's Lad (IRE) 6-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, ridden after 8th, weakened approaching 3 out, 4th of 11, 20l behind Charming Oscar (10-2) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft.
Smoke Trail (IRE) 16-1 (10-3) Raced wide, held up, ridden and no impression on leaders when hit 3 out, plugged on, 5th of 9, 10l behind Alphabetical (11-9) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Nov.
Alam (USA) 12-1 (11-12) Led until after 7th, ridden and weakened 9th, went distant 2nd 4 out, 2nd of 8, well behind Ping Pong Sivola (11-1) at Wincanton 2m 5f cnd hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft.
Heart Springs 16-1 (11-7) Towards rear, headway 14th, weakened after 3 out, 6th of 17, 31l behind Top Dawn (10-0) at Hereford 3m 1f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in May.
Junctiontwentyfour 33-1 (9-11) Led until 13th, ridden after 3 out, rallied approaching 2 out, went 2nd last, always held by winner, 2nd of 16, 4l behind Saunders Road (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f cnd hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs.
Oncle Kid (FR) 9-1 (11-7) In touch when fell in race won by Rosie All Over (11-12) at Exeter 3m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft, 9 ran.
L'Eau Du Nil (FR) 20-1 (10-3) Towards rear, some headway after 9th, ridden 4 out, soon held, 5th of 10, 12l behind Lorient Express (11-4) at Ludlow 2m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs.
Ede'iff 33-1 (10-13) Chased leaders, ridden after 9th, weakened next, 6th of 11, 48l behind Charming Oscar (10-2) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft.
Alcatras (IRE) 6-1 (10-9) Led, headed after 4 out, soon weakened, 4th of 7, 28l behind Methodical (10-4) at Hereford 3m 1f clm chs (3) gs.
