in touch when fell 1st
tracked leaders, hit 2nd, outpaced 3 out, soon ridden and no impression
hampered 1st, held up, headway to join winner 8th, ridden 2 out, kept on same pace approaching last, no impression flat
tracked leader, led 5th, made rest, driven clear approaching last, stayed on well
jumped left, held up, blundered 2nd, outpaced 3 out, never on terms
led, mistake 3rd, headed and reminders 5th, chased leaders, lost place 8th, ridden and weakened 3 out
held up in touch, hit 7th, outpaced when hit 3 out, soon weakened
Nonrunner
Alan King's runners have tended to struggle since the return of National Hunt racing following so many abandonments earlier this month so Bormo looks best watched in a race taken to go to TEDDY'S REFLECTION, who gets the verdict ahead of Reindeer Dippin. Don McCain's gelding won well in a beginners' chase at Hexham last month when beating Riguez Dancer by over 20 lengths and has solid claims in a handicap despite having to race off a mark of 130 but the yard has struggled to have winners since the resumption of jumps racing and he may be need a bit more time. Anything trained by Francois Doumen has to be considered but his runner, Moneywise, will need to improve dramatically on the form of his most recent starts to get involved at the finish here. As well as Bormo, Alan King is also represented by Call Me A Legend and he has claims but a better bet looks to be Teddy's Reflection. Henrietta Knight's gelding failed to progress from his debut success in a novice hurdle at Fontwell but looked a potential future winner over fences after an encouraging debut over the larger obstacles when chasing home The Polomoche at Fakenham in November. He looks reasonably well treated for his first start in a handicap over fences off a mark of 125 and may be worth siding with.
Reindeer Dippin 85-40fav (11-0) Made all, clear approaching 2 out, eased near finish, won at Hexham 2m nov chs (4) hvy in Dec beating Riguez Dancer (11-0) by 21l, 9 ran.
Teddy's Reflection (IRE) 6-1 (11-1) Tracked leader, led before 12th, hard pressed 2 out, headed narrowly last, soon ridden, kept on, every chance until no extra towards finish, 2nd of 6, 3/4l behind The Polomoche (11-1) at Fakenham 2m 5f beg chs (4) gs in Nov.
Lordsbridge (USA) 18-1 (11-2) Behind, not fluent 3rd, headway approaching 3 out, disputing 4th and driven approaching 2 out, no extra before last, 7th of 14, 21l behind Hey Big Spender (11-12) at Newbury 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Nov.
Call Me A Legend 11-1 (10-13) Mid-division, headway to chase leaders approaching 3 out, weakened after 2 out, blundered last, 6th of 12, 7l behind Get Me Out Of Here (11-4) at Newbury 2m con hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Nov.
Moneywise (IRE) 25-1 (10-11) Not fluent, always behind, hampered 8th, tailed off when blundered 3 out, 6th of 7, well behind Take The Breeze (11-10) at Newbury 2m 2f nov chs (3) sft in Dec.
Cockatoo (USA) 22-1 (10-12) Mid-division, never dangerous, 7th of 13, well behind Polyfast (10-12) at Kempton 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Dec.
Stumped 4-1 (10-12) Held up, pushed along after 4 out, struggling when not fluent 3 out, left modest 3rd 2 out, 3rd of 6, 12l behind Vinmix De Bessy (11-5) at Lingfield 2m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Nov.
Bormo (FR) 11-2 (11-6) Keen hold, early, chased leaders, pushed along after 8th, ridden and challenging for 2nd before 3 out, one pace and no impression on front pair from next, 3rd of 10, 6l behind Green Belt Elite (11-7) at Wincanton 2m hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Dec.
