held up in 4th, close up 9th, effort on outside after 3 out, challenged next, ridden and every chance flat, kept on, no extra towards finish
held up towards rear, blundered 4 out, chased leaders under pressure after next, kept on same pace from 2 out, no impression
led 2nd, clear until hampered by loose horse and headed 8th, lost place 5 out, ridden and outpaced after 3 out, weakened next, tailed off
mid-division, dropped to rear 5th, reminders after 9th, struggling 12th, never dangerous
held up towards rear, hit 8th, close up on outside next, outpaced 4 out, ridden next, soon weakened, tailed off
held up behind, close up 9th, pecked 4 out, led narrowly before 2 out, ridden and hard pressed from last, held on towards finish
led to 1st, tracked leaders, outpaced by leading trio 3 out, ridden when not fluent next, chased leading pair approaching last, rallied flat, held towards finish
led 1st to next, tracked clear leader, led again 8th, headed before 2 out, kept on same pace, no extra when lost 3rd approaching last
close up when blundered and unseated rider 1st
Nudge And Nurdle seems to have forgotten how to get his head in front while Badger Foot didn't show much on his reappearance though was a long way ahead of Rory Boy at Kelso in the spring and should strip fitter here. THAT'LLDOBOY faces no easy task at the weights considering he's only a five-year-old but did well to hold off the much-fancied Zarrafakt at Newbury last time with the pair clear of the remainder. He still looks to be on an upward curve and can complete the hat-trick. Matako is less exposed than Bene Lad and could run into a place if jumping round safely.
That'lldoboy (FR) 11-2 (10-5) In touch, headway to chase leaders 10th, went 2nd next, hit 4 out, led 3 out, 2 lengths ahead when hit last, hard driven flat, held on, all out, won at Newbury 2m 6f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Nov beating Zarrafakt (11-3) by hd, 13 ran.
Badger Foot (IRE) 13-2 (11-11) Mid-division, headway after 9th, left 3rd 10th, chased winner next, weakened from 2 out, lost remote 4th close home, tailed off, 5th of 11, 48l behind Morning Moment (11-5) at Haydock 3m hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in Oct.
Nudge And Nurdle (IRE) 13-2 (11-4) Last trio, ridden along before 15th, driven in 5th 4 out, no chance when left modest 4th 2 out, tailed off, 4th of 7, 34l behind Master Cobbler (10-8) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs.
Rory Boy (USA) 8-1 (9-12) With leader, lost place from 4th, outpaced from 4 out, went 3rd last, kept on to take 2nd place near finish, 2nd of 5, 4l behind First Fandango (11-12) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Nov.
Matako (FR) 12-1 (10-13) Hampered 1st, well in rear, headway after 11th, stayed on to 3rd approaching 3 out, one pace from next, 3rd of 15, 2 1/2l behind Bless The Wings (11-11) at Exeter 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs in Nov.
Night Alliance (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, lost place 3rd, no impression 3 out, mistake last, went 3rd flat, no chance with front pair, 3rd of 12, 16l behind Trafalgar (11-1) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Nov.
River D'or (FR) 80-1 (10-9) In rear, hampered 3rd, mistake 5th, blundered 10th, never in contention, 7th of 15, 34l behind Roalco De Farges (11-6) at Newbury 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Nov.
That's The Deal (IRE) 22-1 (9-12) Close up, ridden and weakened 3 out, 7th of 10, well behind Mohayer (11-9) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Nov.
Bene Lad (IRE) 7-2fav (10-7) Tracked leader, ridden after 3 out, kept on after last, went 2nd final 100 yards, no impression on winner, 2nd of 14, 6l behind Douglas Julian (11-5) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Nov.
