tracked leaders, went 2nd 6th, pushed along and blundered 3 out, weakened soon after
held up and off the pace, steady headway to chase leaders 7th, went 3rd 3 out, disputing 2nd bypassing omitted 2 out, stayed on same pace in 3rd approaching last
close up in 5th, left in lead 3rd, not fluent 6th, ridden and headed soon after bypasing omitted 2 out, chased winner and kept on flat, always held
led until blundered and unseated rider 3rd
went right 1st, chased leaders, went 2nd briefly after 2nd, chased leaders until weakened approaching 6th
well off the pace and behind, kept on flat, never going pace to trouble leaders
took keen hold, mostly chased leader until after 6th, weakened 3 out
in touch until blundered and unseated rider 5th
held up in 7th, headway to 4th after 6th, went 2nd 3 out, weakened bypassing omitted 2 out
tended to jump left, always in rear, tailed off
well in rear, blundered and rider lost iron briefly 3rd, never involved
held up off the pace in mid-division, steady headway 7th, chased leaders 3 out, led on inside bypasing omitted 2 out, idled flat but stayed on well
MICHEAL FLIPS won here and at Taunton in his first season over fences and ran some cracking races in defeat, most notably when running the smart For Non Stop to two lengths in a Grade 1 at Newbury in February. This trip may be a fraction on the short side but Andy Turnell's charge is the class act in this and can give the weight away. The mare Pepite Rose also had some good form last term but isn't very big and has her fair share of weight on her comeback while Lidar appears to have two ways of running and is susceptible if taken on for the lead. Falcon Island had a spin behind Gus Macrae at Aintree last week and should close the gap on the winner here while Denis Hogan's raider Kalellshan has won his last four races under NH Rules and can't be ignored. Doctor David goes well fresh and may be the pick of the remainder.
Micheal Flips (IRE) 33-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, 4th and outpaced 3 out, kept on same pace from next, never on terms, 4th of 10, 21l behind Sir Des Champs (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 4f nov chs G2 (1) gd in Mar.
Pepite Rose (FR) 4-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders in 4th on outside, ridden after 3 out, beaten when hit 2 out, soon hung left and well held, 4th of 5, 16l behind Menorah (11-4) at Aintree 2m 4f nov chs G1 (1) gs in Apr.
Lidar (FR) 7-2fav (11-2) Prominent, not fluent 2nd or 3rd, jumped left 4th, ridden 2 out, one pace flat, 3rd of 6, 8l behind Rio Gael (10-0) at Aintree 2m hcp chs (2) gd in May.
Kalellshan (IRE) 9-4fav (10-7) Made all, pushed out to go clear after 2 out, easily, won at Killarney 2m 4f hcp chs sft in Aug beating Orpheus Valley (9-10) by 11l, 11 ran.
Passato (GER) 18-1 (11-5) Off the pace in 5th, ridden and weakened 11th, 8th of 10, 19l behind Shoegazer (11-7) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f listed hcp chs (1) sft in Sep.
Falcon Island 9-1 (11-6) Prominent, ridden 3 out, one pace last, 3rd of 7, 5l behind Gus Macrae (9-8) at Aintree 2m hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft in Oct.
Doctor David 11-4 (11-7) Tracked leaders, not fluent 2nd, mistake 4th, went 2nd after 9th, led approaching 4 out, hit 2 out, headed before last, no extra flat, 2nd of 5, 10l behind Nadiya De La Vega (11-0) at Haydock 2m grad ch (2) gd in Nov '11.
Comehomequietly (IRE) 14-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened from 2 out, 10th of 16, 19l behind The Disengager (11-0) at Market Rasen 2m 6f listed hcp chs (1) gd in Sep.
Criqtonic (FR) 2-1 (11-4) Tracked winner, pushed along after 3 out, no impression and beaten next, 2nd of 3, 16l behind Kumbeshwar (11-0) at Plumpton 2m 1f nov chs (3) hvy in Jan.
Trooper Clarence 8-1 (9-13) Held up in touch, not fluent 2nd, 4th when jumped left 3 out, weakened approaching last, 5th of 7, 13l behind Idarah (10-3) at Ffos Las 2m hcp chs (2) gs in Aug.
Sublime Talent (IRE) 8-1 (12-0) Held up in 4th until 7th, weakened before 4 out, 4th of 6, 31l behind Houston Dynimo (11-5) at Worcester 2m nov chs (4) gd in Sep.
Gus Macrae (IRE) 6-1 (9-8) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 3 out, led approaching last, stayed on, won at Aintree 2m hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft in Oct beating Silver Roque (10-7) by 4l, 7 ran.
