in touch, close to order 7th, left 2nd, approaching 5 out, weakened 2 out
tracked leader, led after 1st, headed 2nd, ridden and weakened 7th, behind when pulled up before 5 out
towards rear, headway 5 out, went poor 3rd after 3 out
held up, blundered 3rd, soon well behind
held up, headway 5th, weakened 5 out, fell heavily 4 out
led, headed after 1st, led again 2nd, headed 6th, stumbled on bend after 7th and slipped up
mid-division, headway after 7th, weakened 4 out
in touch, brought down on bend after 7th
held up, badly hampered on bend after 7th, some progress until mistake 3 out
tracked leaders, led 6th, jumped slightly right from 5 out, clear 2 out
Venetia Williams can land this handicap chase with NAXOX; Araldur and Carthys Cross are the main dangers. The selection chased home Cash Man at Kelso when last seen out back in April. He basically ran out of steam on the heavy ground that day so today's conditions will suit him better and he looks the one to beat. Carthys Cross has now finished second on each of his last six starts and while we expect him to again make the frame here, the likelihood is that he will find the one too good again. Araldur is interesting as he shaped with promise for a long way on his handicap bow last time at Bangor and with that run under his belt he should be capable of getting competitive today. John Spearing's High Standard looks the best of the others, but this appears to be a good opportunity for Naxox who is a sound bet to land the prize.
Money Point (IRE) 9-1 (11-3) Towards rear, held when jumped left 2 out, 6th of 12, 34l behind The Jolly Spoofer (11-0) at Ludlow 2m 4f beg chs (4) gf in Oct.
Warrior Drive (IRE) 16-1 (10-13) Chased leaders, weakened 4 out, tailed off, 11th of 12, well behind Los Nadis (11-4) at Cartmel 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Aug.
Captain Marlon (IRE) 16-1 (10-13) Always behind, tailed off when pulled up at the last in race won by The Hollow Bottom (11-0) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Oct, 14 ran.
Western Whisky (FR) 12-1 (11-9) Mid-division, rear and no impression from before 5 out, tailed off, 8th of 13, well behind Leney Dow Jones (10-6) at Kilbeggan 3m 1f hcp chs 0-109 gd in May.
Naxox (FR) 11-4 (11-0) Tracked leaders, ridden approaching 2 out, headway to lead last, driven and no extra when headed close home, 2nd of 16, 1 1/2l behind Cash Man (11-2) at Kelso 2m nov hdl (4) hvy in Apr.
High Standard (NZ) 9-2 (11-3) Prominent, led 4th until 6th, tracked winner, ridden after 3 out, weakened before next, 3rd of 8, 33l behind Master Medic (11-3) at Fontwell 2m 4f nov chs (4) gd in Oct.
Norborne Bandit (IRE) 5-1 (10-6) Held up in touch, pushed along 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, last of 5, 19l behind Border Tale (11-1) at Huntingdon 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gf in Oct.
Magot de Grugy (FR) 12-1 (11-7) Mid-division, headway 11th, every chance approaching 4 out, ridden approaching 3 out, kept on same pace, 4th of 13, 8l behind Oracle des Mottes (11-9) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Oct.
Carthys Cross (IRE) 2-1fav (11-12) Held up in touch, not fluent 2nd, challenged 3 out, slight lead last, ridden and headed flat, not quicken, 2nd of 6, 2l behind No Greater Love (10-13) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Oct.
Araldur (FR) 9-4fav (10-13) Chased leaders, not fluent 4th, hit 8th, chased winner aproaching 3 out until after 2 out, weakened after last, 3rd of 8, 8l behind Laoch Dubh (11-10) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Oct.
