tracked winner, jumped slowly 2nd, led 6th to 8th, outpaced 11th, soon lost touch, tailed off
held up in touch, headway to lead 5th, headed next, tracked leaders, blundered 4 out, led next, headed 2 out, rallied to lead again last, ridden and kept on until headed and no extra towards finish
led to 6th, tracked leaders, led again 8th, headed 3 out, led again narrowly next, headed when mistake last, ridden and rallied to regain lead towards finish
tracked leaders until pulled up after 7th
behind, ridden and struggling 7th, lost touch when blundered next, pulled up before 9th
John Forbes won in gutsy fashion when successful at Aintree in November and Brian Ellison's gelding has to be respected on his chasing debut but he will need to improve on his hurdling form if he is get the better of FORTYSECOND STREET, who gets the vote over King Fontaine. Malcolm Jefferson's gelding is lightly raced having only had seven starts so far and has shown improved form over hurdles this term, winning his two starts so far in novice events. The seven-year-old has to be respected on his chasing debut and makes more appeal than Peter Monteith's Seven Is Lucky, who has given little sign of encouragement over hurdles or on his chasing debut at Carlisle in November. Another Charmer is similarly little better than moderate and it is hard to get away from Fortysecond Street. Howard Johnson's gelding was the pick of these over timber, winning two of his three starts, and made a pleasing debut over fences when a close third to Double Vodka here last month; a reproduction of that form may well suffice.
Another Charmer (IRE) 66-1 (11-2) Mid-division, ridden and weakened 4 out, 11th of 14, 36l behind Double Vodka (11-2) at Catterick 2m 3f beg chs (4) sft in Dec.
Fortysecond Street (IRE) 9-4fav (11-2) Led, blundered 2nd, soon headed, ridden 3 out, no extra flat, lost 2nd close home, 3rd of 14, 4l behind Double Vodka (11-2) at Catterick 2m 3f beg chs (4) sft in Dec.
John Forbes 20-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, soon in touch, ridden approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 7th of 13, 29l behind Open de L'Isle (10-9) at Hexham 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) hvy in Dec.
King Fontaine (IRE) 6-5fav (11-5) Tracked leader, headway to lead before 2 out, headed narrowly last, soon ridden, rallied to lead again final 50 yards, won at Market Rasen 2m 3f nov hdl (4) sft in Dec beating Tequilla Bob (10-12) by 1 3/4l, 9 ran.
Seven Is Lucky (IRE) 13-2 (11-10) Jumpled slowly 1st, always behind, 8th of 11, 33l behind Bob's Dream (11-5) at Carlisle 2m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Nov.
