chased leader, led 3rd to 6th, slow jump 8th, soon dropped to rear, struggling 10th, tailed off 4 out
chased leaders, went second before 4 out to 3 out, weakened soon after
held up, under pressure before 9th, driven and struggling before 4 out, tailed off
chased leaders, led 6th, headed approaching 4 out, weakening when blundered 3 out, tailed off
chased leaders, went second 3 out, led last, hard ridden flat, headed towards finish
led to 3rd, chased leader, led approaching 4 out, ridden and headed last, weakened flat
held up, pushed along before 4 out, weakened after next
took keen hold early, held up in touch, headway to chase leaders 10th, effort approaching 2 out, stayed on under pressure on long run from last, driven to lead towards finish
raced on inside, in touch, headway approaching 4 out, ridden approaching 2 out, stayed on into 3rd flat
Nonrunner
A tricky race to call but BUCK THE LEGEND has scope for improvement and he is preferred to Victorias Groom and Super Formen. The latter would be interesting but the worry is that he doesn't really see out this trip. However his trainer did win this last year with Herecomesthetruth, and this fellow certainly acts in the mud, so a bold bid would be no surprise despite stamina reservations. Instead then preference is for Buck The Legend who certainly does see out the trip; his reappearance run was not exceptional but he should come on for the run and the feeling is that his mark of 132 is starting to look lenient. The ground is against Yes Sir and his mark still looks too high, Or Bleu ran well last time out but never really threatened to overhaul impressive winner Cornas, whilst Victorias Groom is 7lb higher than his win at Lingfield. Private Be drops in grade, Heathcote is slowly edging down the weights, whilst Nirvana Swing needs to improve for the drop in trip. Amble Forge has stamina to prove, so we are happy to return to Buck The Legend as the nomination.
Yes Sir (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) Always prominent, mistake 4 out, ridden next, chased winner approaching last, no impression, 2nd of 12, 6l behind Nacarat (11-9) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp chs 0-140 (2) sft in Jan.
Or Bleu (FR) 17-2 (11-7) Tracked leader, in rear from 4th, ridden after 4 out, kept on same pace to take 2nd flat, no chance with winner, 2nd of 5, 13l behind Cornas (11-0) at Exeter 2m 1f chs (2) sft.
Buck The Legend (IRE) 7-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, mistake 4th, weakened approaching 2 out, 6th of 11, 32l behind Shining Gale (11-12) at Haydock 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft in Nov.
Victorias Groom (GER) 13-8fav (11-10) Made all, ridden and ran on flat, won at Lingfield 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy beating Princeful (11-2) by 12l, 6 ran.
Private Be 9-2fav (11-2) Chased leaders, hit 4 out, lost place approaching 3 out, no impression after, hampered 2 out, 7th of 13, 13l behind Poquelin (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gf in Oct.
Super Formen (FR) 4-1 (11-12) Tracked leader, led 4 out, joined 2 out, soon hard ridden, narrowly headed before last, still every chance flat, held towards finish, 2nd of 9, 3/4l behind Bertie May (10-10) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy.
Heathcote 25-1 (10-13) Held up towards rear, ridden after 8th, blundered 7 out, weakening when hampered 5 out, 6th of 15, 32l behind Watch My Back (11-4) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp chs 0-140 (2) gd.
Magic Sky (FR) 16-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, ridden approaching 4 out, kept on from after 2 out, 3rd of 8, 6l behind Le Roi Rouge (11-3) at Wetherby 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy.
Amble Forge (IRE) 6-1 (11-6) Mid-division, headway 8th, led approaching last, headed close home, 2nd of 13, 1 1/4l behind Russian Flag (11-5) at Warwick 2m hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft.
Nirvana Swing (FR) 10-3 (10-0) Tracked leaders, weakened 14th, last of 5, 33l behind Money Trix (11-3) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp chs 0-120 (2) sft.
