chased leaders, chased leader 3 out, led and hit 2 out, driven clear flat
chased leader, ridden to lead 3 out, headed next, no chance with winner when rider eased up nearing line, just held on for 2nd
held up in rear, smooth headway on inside 4th, went 3rd before 3 out, no chance with winner but stayed on to challenge for 2nd as rider of runner-up eased up nearing line
held up in 6th, headway under pressure before 3 out, went 4th 2 out, driven and no impression before last, stayed on again flat
took keen hold, led at steady pace, ridden and headed 3 out, weakened and mistakes last 2
held up in 7th, ridden after 4 out, struggling when blundered on outside 2 out
took keen hold towards rear, not fluent 3rd, some headway under pressure on outside after 4 out, weakened before next, tailed off
took keen hold, chased leaders, ridden and weakened after 4 out
close 5th, weakened 4 out, tailed off
Ten Pole Tudor was easy to back at Fontwell earlier this month but was in the process of running a fair race when falling at the last. However, it's doubtful he would have finished ahead of eventual third CARDINAL JAMES, who races off the same mark and is fancied to open his account in a low-key handicap. Be Ashored's third at Southwell was his best run for a while but stable companion Swiss Guard has been out of sorts since scoring at Lingfield in February. January will probably be back over fences sooner rather than later but Karmadice and Potemkin will be better for recent runs and could play a part.
January 9-2 (10-8) Tracked leading pair, joined leader 8th, led next, clear 3 out, ridden out, won at Wincanton 2m nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in Mar beating Trooper Clarence (11-12) by 1 1/2l, 5 ran.
Swiss Guard 22-1 (10-10) Tracked leaders, pushed along after 5th, ridden 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 6th of 8, 29l behind Rajnagan (10-11) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf.
Cardinal James (IRE) 9-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, good headway before 6th, chased leaders from 3 out, went 2nd before next, dropped to 3rd soon after 2 out, hung left and no impression before last, weakened flat, 3rd of 11, 11l behind Parazar (10-13) at Fontwell 2m 2f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf.
Potemkin (USA) 33-1 (10-12) Held up, hampered 8th, never on terms, weakened from 2 out, tailed off, 6th of 8, well behind Wings Of Smoke (10-12) at Aintree 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd.
Tignello (IRE) 33-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, ridden and lost place approaching last, soon last and behind, tailed off, last of 8, well behind Rajnagan (10-11) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf.
Ten Pole Tudor 16-1 (11-7) Held up, headway approaching omitted 6th, driven along before 2 out, left 4th and fell last, in a race won by Parazar (10-13) at Fontwell 2m 2f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf, 11 ran.
Jigsaw Financial (IRE) 50-1 (10-9) Held up in rear, headway approaching 6th, no impression, mistake when struggling 3 out, tailed off, 8th of 13, 43l behind Joker Choker (11-5) at Newton Abbot 2m 3f nh nov hdl (3) gf.
Be Ashored 10-1 (10-6) Held up towards rear, headway 5th, not fluent next, outpaced after 3 out, rallied before 2 out, no impression on front pair when took 3rd last, 3rd of 8, 9l behind Fair Gale (11-12) at Southwell 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in May.
Joe Rua (USA) 100-1 (10-9) Held up in rear, pushed along after 5th, weakened approaching 3 out, fell 2 out, in a race won by Ixora (10-12) at Worcester 2m hdl (4) gd, 7 ran.
Karmadice 7-1 (11-3) Keen early, in touch on inside, chased leader 2 out, ridden and lost place before last, soon weakened, 6th of 7, 33l behind Mavalenta (10-6) at Hexham 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd.
