tracked leaders, led 4 out, ridden and headed after 3 out, weakened last
always in rear, jumped left 2nd
led 1st, soon headed, pushed along approaching 5th, ridden and weakened 4 out
led 2nd, weakening quickly when mistake 4 out, pulled up and dismounted before next
held up and keen, headway 3 out, weakened when pecked 2 out
held up and keen, headway 3 out, hampered and left 2nd 2 out, kept on, held by winner
mid-division and keen, not fluent 5th, mistake next, weakened 3 out
in touch, led after 3 out and fell 2 out
always towards rear, weakened 3 out
in touch, mistake 6th, joined leader and mistake 2 out, soon left clear, eased down towards finish
mid-division and keen, headway to chase leaders 4 out, weakening when hanging left from 2 out
It will be interesting to see how Fighting Chance performs on his first start for 588 days but the Philip Hobbs-trained gelding is probably best watched and a safer bet looks to be Supreme Huntress, who gets the vote ahead of Miss Mitch. The selection is clearly no world-beater but the Paul Nicholls-trained gelding has shown promise in both starts, latterly when chasing home Rosita Bay at Plumpton on his hurdling debut, and he should take all the beating. David Pipe's Commercial Express has proven to be something of a disappointment so far and is readily passed over, while Hills Of Aran needs to improve on all known form to trouble the judge. Towcester winner Miss Mitch failed to reproduce the form at Cheltenham last time and a safer bet looks to be Supreme Huntress, who gets the vote on ground that suit.
Blakeney Run 125-1 (10-7) Held up towards rear, ridden 8th, weakened and pulled up 2 out in race won by Leading Attraction (10-7) at Wincanton 2m 6f nov hdl (4) gd in Nov, 16 ran.
Bold Finch (FR) 100-1 (10-9) Not jump well, mid-division when fell 3 out in race won by Fantastic Arts (11-0) at Hereford 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) gf in Nov, 15 ran.
Commercial Express (IRE) 12-1 (10-7) In touch, ridden after 9th, weakened 3 out, 4th of 8, 25l behind Desperate Dex (10-12) at Uttoxeter 3m nov hdl (4) hvy in Nov.
Fighting Chance (IRE) 6-4jt-fav (11-7) won at Woodford 3m ptp sft in Apr '05 beating Murphy's Present (12-0) by 6l, 12 ran.
Foolish Myth Midnight Legend gelding out of a lightly-raced mare.
Hills Of Aran 25-1 (10-12) Mid-division, keen, headway to chase leaders 3 out, weakened approaching last, 3rd of 12, 11l behind Mount Sandel (10-12) at Hereford 2m 3f nov hdl (4) hvy in Nov.
La Bonne Vie 100-1 (11-2) Pulled early, chased leader, ridden halfway, soon lost touch, last of 7, well behind Maggie Mathias (9-13) at Taunton 2m 1f mdn nhf (6) gd in Nov.
Miss Mitch (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Held up, lost touch before 7th, tailed off, 6th of 8, well behind Massini's Maguire (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hdl (2) gs in Nov.
Sub Artic (IRE) 33-1 (10-9) Mid-division until weakened after 7th, 7th of 10, 26l behind Pass It On (11-6) at Leicester 2m 4f nov hdl (3) hvy in Nov.
Supreme Huntress (IRE) 9-1 (10-12) In touch, headway when not much room and mistake 9th, every chance when mistake 3 out, kept on one pace, 2nd of 12, 6l behind Rosita Bay (10-5) at Plumpton 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
We Got Him (IRE) 33-1 (10-11) In touch, effort approaching 2 out, weakened before last, 5th of 13, 15l behind Once A Brownie (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gd in Nov.
