held up in mid-division, lost place 8th, weakened before 3 out
held up in touch, not fluent 6th, effort to challenge 3 out, soon led, mistake last, edged left flat, stayed on well, won going away
towards rear, behind when pulled up before 3 out
took keen hold towards rear, jumped right 3rd, mistake 3rd, behind 8th, pulled up after 9th
took keen hold, held up well in rear, headway 8th, mistake and no extra 3 out
prominent, mistake 8th, ridden before 3 out, 4th and no impression when mistake 2 out
led, not fluent 3rd, headed before 3 out, switched right flat, no impression on winner final 100 yards
chased leaders, not fluent 9th, led when not fluent 3 out, soon headed, mistake last, 3rd and no impression flat
rear of mid-division after slow jump 1st, not fluent 6th, pushed along 8th, tailed off when mistake 9th, soon pulled up
tracked leaders, went 2nd before 4th, not fluent 6th, weakened before 3 out, tailed off
SFORZA CASTLE edges this at the weights having shown his first piece of worthwhile form when third at Market Rasen and Ben Pauling’s charge gets the vote. Shandancer and Seinesational are more exposed though have a chance on recent efforts over these hurdles but Craven Bay has a bit to find with the latter while point-to-point winner Red River Valley debuts over timber.
Claude Almighty (FR) 250-1 (11-0) Towards rear, dropped to last and ridden after 7th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out, at Plumpton 2m 5f (4) gs in Nov.
Craven Bay (IRE) 9-1 (11-4) Raced keenly tracking leaders, led 4 out, ridden and headed 2 out, lost 2nd last, no extra in 3rd run-in, 3rd of 10, 5l behind Woodie Flash (11-4) at Worcester 2m 7f mdn (4) gd in Jul.
Isle Of Oir (IRE) 33-1 (11-4) Took keen hold, prominent, lost position quickly halfway, pulled up after 3 out,, at Market Rasen 2m 1f mdn (4) gs in Aug.
It's A Love Thing 25-1 (11-4) Held up, keen early, dropped towards rear before 4th, slow jump 3 out and soon struggling, detached well before final flight, finished 16 lengths detached, last of 8, 34 1/2l behind Call Me Rocky (11-4) at Stratford 2m mdn (4) gd in Jul.
Red River Valley (IRE) 17-2 (11-2) In rear, struggling home turn, late headway, 6th of 10, 19 1/4l behind Lightfoot Lady (10-9) at Stratford 2m (5) gd in Mar.
Seinesational 9-4fav (11-4) Close 3rd on inside, led 2 out, bad mistake last, ridden and headed run-in, not recover, 2nd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Woodie Flash (11-4) at Worcester 2m 7f mdn (4) gd in Jul.
Sforza Castle (IRE) 13-2 (11-2) Led, ridden and headed before 2 out, 3 lengths down in 3rd approaching last, outpaced run-in, late headway close home, not reach leaders near finish, 3rd of 11, 1 3/4l behind Roll With It (11-2) at Market Rasen 2m 5f (4) sft in Jul.
Shandancer (IRE) 17-2 (12-0) Disputed lead, not fluent 3rd, mistake and headed last, 3rd and no extra towards finish, 3rd of 6, 2 1/4l behind Nadim (11-2) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp (5) sft in Jul.
Champagne Kiss Bollin Eric M out of Cutlass Silver.
Princess Priya (IRE) 100-1 (11-2) Mid-division, lost place before 5th, well behind 3 out, 9th of 11, dist behind Queens Rock (11-2) at Southwell 2m mdn (4) sft in Nov.