always behind
chased leaders to 14th, soon beaten
held up in touch, tracked leaders 4 out, effort next, soon one pace
led, headed 2 out, no extra last
tracked leaders, challenged 4out, soon ridden, rallied to lead before last, all out
fell 1st
in touch, pushed along and lost place 10th, weakened 15th
towards rear, weakened 14th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
mid-division, headway 14th to chase leaders, every chance 3out, led 2 out, headed before last, kept on
Drybrook Bedouin was given a superb ride by Nick Schofield to collar Shaking Hands in the shadow of the post over 4m at Exeter last time. But the runner-up is fancied to have his revenge over this shorter distance on slightly better terms. Noakarad De Verzee was second at Newbury on his reappearance but still looks a shade high in the weights, while Master Cobbler has more to do than when winning over C&D at the start of the month. Earth Planet is consistent but doesn't win as often as he should so we'll take a chance that HONOURABLE ARTHUR will have benefited sufficiently from his reappearance at Exeter to get back to winning ways here. He rattled up a hat-trick last winter and may still have a bit of scope over this sort of trip.
Drybrook Bedouin 16-1 (11-8) Behind, steady headway before 15th, chased leaders before 4 out, went 3rd 3 out, 2nd and went badly right 2 out, went badly right and led narrowly last, driven out and stayed on well, won at Exeter 4m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs beating Shaking Hands (11-7) by 3/4l, 13 ran.
Noakarad De Verzee (FR) 16-1 (11-5) Tracked winner until 5th, prominent, lost place after 11th, closed 17th, went 2nd after 4 out, stayed on same pace from 2 out, no impression on winner, just held on for 2nd, 2nd of 7, 7l behind Battlecry (10-8) at Newbury 3m 2f am hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Nov.
Earth Planet (IRE) 11-2 (11-3) Tracked leaders, jumped slowly 17th, ridden when not fluent 4 out, stayed on same pace from 2 out, just failed in battle for 2nd, no impression on winner, 3rd of 7, 7l behind Battlecry (10-8) at Newbury 3m 2f am hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Nov.
Shaking Hands (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) Jumped right at some fences, led, strongly pressed from 4 out, stayed on gamely, narrowly headed last, kept on but always held flat, 2nd of 13, 3/4l behind Drybrook Bedouin (11-8) at Exeter 4m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs.
Honourable Arthur (IRE) 10-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, weakened after 13th, tailed off, 7th of 15, 41l behind Fortification (11-3) at Exeter 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Nov.
Master Cobbler (IRE) 15-2 (10-8) Jumped left, chased leaders, went 2nd 15th, pushed along to lead 3 out, driven and stayed on well from last, won at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs beating Magot De Grugy (11-0) by 3l, 7 ran.
Rateable Value 4-1 (11-5) Behind, not fluent 5th and 9th, tailed off when blundered 13th, pulled up before 15th, in a race won by Reblis (10-13) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft, 11 ran.
Betheholygobbs (IRE) 20-1 (11-2) Mistak 1st, behind, hampered 11th, headway before 3 out, went 3rd 2 out, no chance with leading trio, 3rd of 11, 18l behind Mylord Collonges (11-8) at Wincanton 2m 5f cond hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs.
Lavenoak Lad 16-1 (10-8) Tracking leaders when jumped slowly and lost place 1st, jumped slowly and last 6th, behind 8th, pulled up before 12th, in a race won by Victory Gunner (11-4) at Ffos Las 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Nov, 10 ran.
Ballyfoy (IRE) 20-1 (11-8) Mid-division, headway to chase leaders before 5 out, ridden before and not fluent last, soon weakened, 6th of 16, well behind Giles Cross (11-12) at Fontwell 3m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Nov.
