held up in 6th, pushed along before 9th, headway into 4th before 2 out, disputing well held 2nd between last two, lost 2nd at the last, weakened and lost two places in closing stages
held up in 5th, went 4th 8th, blundered 3 out, soon driven and weakened, eased before next, soon pulled up
soon towards rear, last pair when mistake 4th, went left and mistake next, mistake 7th, closer order on outside approaching 4 out, driven along disputing well held 4th before 2 out, disputing well held 2nd between last two, no extra in 5th last
led and soon clear, headed before 8th, lost 2nd next, chased leaders, driven along in 3rd after 3 out, 2nd 2 out until between last two, 4th and one pace before last, went 3rd towards finish until close home
raced keenly, chased leader, challenged 7th, led before 8th, headed 4 out, chased winner, driven and well held after 3 out, mistake and lost 2nd 2 out, weakened between last two
held up towards rear, only 9th and plenty to do 3 out, headway approaching 2 out, disputing 4th and went left 2 out, went 2nd at the last, never any chance with very easy winner
always in rear, tailed off
chased leaders, pushed along before 4 out, weakened before next
chased leaders, 2nd 8th, led 4 out, drew well clear after next, very easily
in mid-division until lost place and towards rear 4th, driven in rear and plenty to do 3 out, driven and only 8th at the last, stayed on flat, went 3rd in closing stages
A good, solid handicap chase and a chance is taken with BELLENOS. He finished well behind Ulck Du Lin here last time, beaten some 12l. However, he did appear to be in need of the race that day and now meets his conqueror of significantly better terms. He's decent claims of turning the form around and should at least go off at a price to reward each-way support. Ulck Du Lin still emerges as the main danger despite the turnaround in the weights and remains attractively treated despite having been raised 8lb for that victory. Like Bellenos, he's only a six-year-old and must have plenty more to offer over fences. Parsnip Pete and Grey Gold merit their position at the top of the weights and are preferred in that order, the George inmate having shaped really well when obliging in a decent Aintree handicap last time. Both seem sure to run their race and continue their respective consistent runs of form in useful handicap company.
Grey Gold (IRE) 8-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 5 out, led 3 out, held on well, won at Chepstow 2m hcp chs (2) sft in Oct beating Upsilon Bleu (11-0) by 3/4l, 12 ran.
Parsnip Pete 10-3fav (11-9) Held up in touch in 4th, went 3rd before 8th, led 2 out, clear before last, kept on well, won at Aintree 2m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Oct beating Surf And Turf (11-0) by 2 1/4l, 7 ran.
Brick Red 7-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, every chance from 2 out, kept on same pace closing stages, 3rd of 11, 3l behind Manyriverstocross (11-7) at Ascot 2m 1f nov chs (2) gd in Mar.
Oscar Hill (IRE) 50-1 (10-4) Took keen hold, led, headed 4 out, 4th and one pace next, plugged on to take 3rd flat but no impression, 3rd of 7, 14l behind God's Own (10-7) at Exeter 2m 1f ltd hcp chs Grd 2 (1) gs.
Fair Dilemma (IRE) 16-1 (11-6) Led, driven flat, headed towards finish, 2nd of 7, 1l behind Able Deputy (11-12) at Worcester 2m hcp chs 0-150 (2) gf in Aug.
Lancetto (FR) 25-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, shaken up after 4 out, soon left behind, 5th of 6, 26l behind Uxizandre (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m lst chs (1) sft.
Bellenos (FR) 9-2fav (11-5) Not fluent, blundered 1st, held up in rear, mistake 7th, headway 8th, chased leading pair before 3 out, no impression before next, blundered last, soon dropped to 4th, 4th of 9, 12l behind Ulck Du Lin (9-13) at Ascot 2m 1f listed hcp chs (1) gd.
Ulck Du Lin (FR) 9-2fav (9-13) Chased leader, led 3rd, clear 6th until 8th, ridden between last two, driven and stayed on run in, held on gamely, all out, won at Ascot 2m 1f listed hcp chs (1) gd beating Claret Cloak (11-12) by 3/4l, 9 ran.
Croco Bay (IRE) 16-1 (10-9) Held up in rear, took keen hold, headway on outside 2 out, never a threat, 6th of 11, 11l behind Johns Spirit (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs (2) gs in Oct.
Christopher Wren (USA) 25-1 (10-12) Chased leaders on outside, pushed along after 4 out, outpaced approaching 2 out, modest 3rd after the last, no chance with leading duo, 3rd of 9, 9l behind Ulck Du Lin (9-13) at Ascot 2m 1f listed hcp chs (1) gd.
