tracked leaders, headway to lead after 13th, ridden clear between last 2, stayed on well, comfortably
refused to race
mid-division, outpaced when blundered 13th, pulled up before next,
held up, headway 13th, went 2nd approaching 3 out, soon ridden, 8 lengths down no impression when not fluent last
mid-division, lost place when blundered 11th, soon weakened, behind when blundered 4 out, pulled up before next
behind, struggling 11th, never dangerous
in touch, pushed along 10th, soon lost place, behind when pulled up before 4 out
led, ridden and headed after 15th, soon weakened, behind when pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, outpaced 4 out, soon ridden, kept on under pressure from next, never troubled leaders
chased leaders, outpaced 4 out, weakened next
behind, hit 7th, headway when not fluent 13th, ridden to chase leaders approaching 3 out, kept on same pace, no impression
with leader, lost place 12th, soon weakened, behind when pulled up before 3 out
tracked leaders, ridden and effort approaching 3 out, lost place next, soon weakened
mistakes, jumped left and always behind, pulled up before 13th
Blue Dark and GOOD MAN JACK are both newcomers to chasing but they're potentially the most interesting runners in this field whilst Oncle Kid is well enough handicapped to feature if his jumping holds up. The suggestion is David Pipe's runner who won a point-to-point at the third time of asking when he got the better of Molly's Garden who has won a couple of race for Charlie Longsdon. Good Man Jack has been well held at big prices behind some decent sorts in three starts over hurdles but it would be no surprise to see a better performance on his chase and handicap bow over a longer trip. Blue Dark has shown ability over hurdles and it would be no surprise to see him go well on his chase bow whilst Jim Old has his team in good order so Thedreamstillalive is well worth considering. Oncle Kid is still a maiden but runs this track well and has shown enough to believe that he can win a race of this nature if his jumping holds up. Michigan D'Isop has gone well enough when fresh to merit consideration whilst the likes of Plein Pouvoir, Hide The Evidence, Apocal and Ballinderry Park can't be dispensed with despite coming into the race on the back of poor performances. This does look open but that may mean that it's a suitable opportunity for Good Man Jack.
Plein Pouvoir (FR) 9-2fav (11-12) Held up in touch, weakened approaching 4 out, 8th of 11, 46l behind Knighton Combe (11-12) at Ascot 3m nov hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Nov.
Hide The Evidence (IRE) 11-1 (10-13) Always towards rear, ridden and struggling after 9th, tailed off, 5th of 9, 41l behind Acordeon (10-13) at Ludlow 2m nov chs (3) sft.
Ballinderry Park (FR) 7-2 (10-12) Held up in rear, headway 8th, bumped 12th, soon ridden, weakened after next, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Just Smudge (11-4) at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Nov, 7 ran.
Michigan d'Isop (FR) 5-1fav (11-7) Held up towards rear, hampered 11th, headway approaching 4 out, close 4th when blundered and unseated rider 3 out, in a race won by Gleann An Sagart (11-7) at Stratford 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in May, 13 ran.
Apocal (IRE) 11-4fav (11-12) In touch, blundered and reminders 6th, ridden and struggling approaching 5 out, tailed off when pulled up before next, in a race won by Mocho (10-9) at Chepstow 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Oct, 7 ran.
American World (FR) 11-2 (10-6) Chased leaders in 4th, mistake 6th, hit 8th and ridden, 3rd before 8th, pushed along before 4 out, no impression from next, tailed off, 4th of 6, well behind Bertie May (10-0) at Exeter 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Nov.
Good Man Jack (IRE) 50-1 (11-2) Chased leaders until weakened after 6th, tailed off, 7th of 12, 49l behind Nictory Vote (11-0) at Taunton 2m 1f nov hdl (4) sft in Feb.
Dream Falcon 7-1 (11-12) Led, headed 8th, lost place after 4 out, beaten when jumped left from 3 out, 5th of 10, 35l behind Sagalyrique (11-12) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft.
Mister Wiseman 12-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, went 2nd after 4 out, kept on same pace from next, no chance with winner, 2nd of 10, 13l behind Sagalyrique (11-12) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft.
Gatien Du Tertre (FR) 11-1 (11-6) Held up, headway and mistake 8th, tracked leaders next, ridden and weakened 4 out, 3rd of 7, 26l behind Master Overseer (10-10) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (3) hvy.
Oncle Kid (FR) 6-1 (10-8) Held up, progressed to dispute close 4th at 7th, fell next, in a race won by Kawagino (11-6) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft, 8 ran.
Thedreamstillalive (IRE) 9-1 (10-11) Led until 3 out, weakened after next, last of 6, 48l behind Temoin (11-12) at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft.
Blue Dark (FR) 17-2 (11-9) Mid-division, pushed along 5th, headway into 3rd 2 out, no impression when left 2nd at last, 2nd of 13, 2 3/4l behind Minnie Hill (11-4) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Nov.
Rudivale (IRE) 7-2 (10-8) Keen, held up, mistake 4th, improved to 3rd 8th, chased winner 11th until next, ridden and weakened 4 out, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Nagam (11-8) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in Oct, 6 ran.
