led, headed 4 out, left in lead and hampered 3 out, kept on
held up tracking leaders, ridden in 4th when mistake 5 out, weakened and hampered and left 2nd 3 out, hung left soon after and mistake last
tracked leaders, ridden after 11th, weakening when fell 5 out
tracked leaders, led and mistake 4 out, narrowly headed when fell 3 out
in rear and hampered 1st, tailed off from 6th
held up mid-division, lost touch 9th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
keen and mistake and fell 1st
in rear, tailed off from 6th
in touch, mistake and rider lost irons 2nd, steady headway from 11th, ridden and narrow leader when fell 3 out
in rear, ridden and lost touch 7th, pulled up before 5 out
Nonrunner
Afrad, Raffaello and Bougoure look the three to concentrate on in the opener with the vote going to Raffaello. The selection was a fair sort over hurdles but has always looked as if he would make a better chaser. He is sure to have been well schooled for this his chasing debut and under conditions that suit he is taken to score. Afrad rates the main danger on his latest second behind Siberion but he lacks the scope of the selection and at like likely odds he looks worth taking on. Bougoure was a fair sort in bumpers and was a fair second behind Turnstile last time out, he is sure to improve but the suspicion is he will be seen to better effect over a longer trip in time. Of the remainder Nyborg Madrik is from a shrewd yard and should be noted in the market but for the winner we return to Raffaello in a race where few can be fancied.
Afrad (FR) 9-4 (11-2) Led 2nd, headed 5th, outpaced 4 out, stayed on well near finish, 2nd of 8, 2 1/2l behind Siberion (11-2) at Plumpton 2m 1f nov chs (3) hvy.
Ballybough Jack (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Rear, effort 12th, stumbled 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 6th when fell 2 out in race won by Snakebite (11-0) at Folkestone 3m 1f nov chs (4) sft, 12 ran.
Bougoure (IRE) Evensfav (11-6) In touch, blundered 8th, challenged when hit 4 out, ridden and outpaced after 2 out, stayed on under pressure flat, held near finish, 2nd of 10, 1l behind Turnstile (11-6) at Sedgefield 2m 4f beg chs (4) gs in Nov.
High Chimes (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Held up in last, lost touch on 7th, went 3rd after last, 3rd of 4, well behind Denman (11-7) at Newbury 2m 4f nov chs Grd 2 (1) hvy in Nov.
Lonesome Boatman (IRE) 100-1 (11-2) led 8f, weakened 7f out, 14th of 20, well behind Den of Iniquity (11-2) at Warwick 2m nhf (6) gs.
Mister Tibus (FR) 200-1 (11-4) Led to 4th, prominent until ridden 11th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Buena Vista (11-4) at Exeter 2m 3f nov chs (2) sft, 6 ran.
Nyborg Madrik (FR) 33-1 (10-3) Keen hold, held up in rear, struggling after 4 out, 13th of 21, well behind Karanja (11-1) at Newbury 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gs in Nov.
Park Quest (IRE) 125-1 (11-5) In rear, weakened 5 out, blundered 3 out, 5th of 7, well behind Only Vintage (11-5) at Market Rasen 2m 4f beg chs (4) sft.
Raffaello (FR) 7-2 (11-7) In touch, led 5th, ridden and headed last, soon outpaced by winner, 2nd of 8, 13l behind Refinement (11-0) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov hdl (2) gs in Feb.
Star Galaxy (IRE) 20-1 (9-10) Held up in touch, ridden and weakening when bumped 3 out, 5th of 17, 21l behind Anshabil (11-9) at Hereford 2m 3f hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft.
Predicament 200-1 (11-0) In touch, ridden when hit 3 out, soon beaten, 5th of 7, 24l behind Don't Push It (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov chs (2) sft.
