chased leaders, blundered 3rd, reminders and outpaced 6th, tailed off 4 out, stayed on from 3 out, went 3rd flat
in touch, stumbled 7th, weakened from 4 out
held up in touch when fell 2nd
held up, rider lost iron after 3rd, pulled up before next
chased winner throughout, no chance from 4 out
made all, in command from 4 out
held up in rear, went 3rd approaching 3 out, no impression
MORE LIKE IT is confidently selected here ahead of Toulouse Express and Carrietau. A bad mistake late on at Catterick last time really scuppered the selection's chance. He was starting to get a bit leg-weary over that longer 19 furlong trip and now dropped back to two miles a return to winning ways is anticipated. Duke Of Malfi's two recent efforts have been abject; pulled up on each occasion he needs to find some of the spark that saw him win at Hexham in November on testing ground. Toulouse Express is consistent but whilst he looks fairly-treated on 84 still, the fact that he hasn't won in 23 chase starts must be a worry for win backers. Storm Surge is less exposed than most and his recent third at Sedgefield doesn't look the worst form on offer. Carrietau was held behind Toulouse Express last time; he has won off a mark of 103 over hurdles and so doesn't look badly treated here off just 1lb higher. Frith was just starting to get into the race won by Shelomoh last time when he was brought down and so he is another who commands respect, but it is More Like It who can live up to his name and bounce back to form.
Carrietau 11-2 (11-12) Held up in touch, ridden 5th, weakened from 5 out, 4th of 10, 11l behind Shelomoh (11-1) at Newcastle 2m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) hvy in Jan.
More Like It (IRE) 11-1 (10-13) Mid-division, effort 4 out, no impression from next, 7th of 11, 17l behind De Boitron (10-2) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Jan.
Duke of Malfi 15-2 (11-0) Held up mid-division, chased leaders when hit 6th, weakened from next, behind when pulled up 4 out in race won by Shelomoh (11-1) at Newcastle 2m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) hvy in Jan, 10 ran.
Frith (IRE) 9-1 (10-9) Held up, ridden after 5 out, staying on when brought down 3 out in race won by Shelomoh (11-1) at Newcastle 2m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) hvy in Jan, 10 ran.
Toulouse Express (IRE) 8-1 (10-1) Chased leader until ridden approaching 2 out, rallied after last, stayed on to take 2nd towards finish, 2nd of 10, 1l behind Shelomoh (11-1) at Newcastle 2m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) hvy in Jan.
Storm Surge (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Tracked leader, led 8th, ridden and headed between last 2, no extra, 3rd of 12, 5l behind Thatlldoforme (11-12) at Sedgefield 2m hcp chs 0-90 (5) hvy in Jan.
Hickory Lane 22-1 (10-3) Always behind, lost touch 14th, tailed off when pulled up 5 out in race won by Nelliedonethat (10-11) at Musselburgh 3m cnd hcp chs (5) gs in Jan, 12 ran.
