prominent, led 6th, headed approaching 4 out, no extra 3 out, weakened next, mistake and unseated rider last
held up, headway when hit 5th, challenged 4 out, soon ridden, no impression from 2 out
prominent, not fluent 1st, led 4th, headed 6th, led again before 4 out, clear 2 out, easily
mistake and unseated rider 1st
held up, bad mistake 1st, ridden before 4th, lost touch netx, pulled up before 3 out
led, not fluent 1st, bad mistake and headed 4th, ridden 6th, outpaced when mistake 4 out, soon weakened, left 3rd last
Seymour Legend looks up against it in this but the remaining quintet are all promising recruits to chasing. Stormy Weather has already won over fences but was only third over a longer trip at Wetherby earlier this month and may struggle to defy a penalty. Ciceron is also a trifle exposed having had three runs over the larger obstacles and will probably do better in handicaps. CONQUISTO has been in the form of his life over hurdles recently and previous doubts over the soft ground were dispelled when he battled to victory at Haydock last month. He could be the one to beat in this if his jumping stands up to the test as the four-year-old Vendor has yet to recapture last season's useful form over timber, though does get all the allowances in this. Pere Blanc was another decent sort over hurdles when last seen but will find easier opportunities in the future.
Stormy Weather (FR) 9-2 (11-5) Held up towards rear, headway before 4 out, went 3rd before 3 out, no chance with front pair from 2 out, 3rd of 7, 20l behind Yurok (11-0) at Wetherby 2m 4f nov chs (3) sft.
Ciceron (IRE) 7-2 (11-9) Chased leading pair, pushed along after 4 out, went 2nd 2 out, no chance with easy winner, just held on for 2nd, 2nd of 5, 11l behind Marshal Zhukov (11-12) at Taunton 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft.
Conquisto 7-4fav (11-5) Tracked clear leader but clear of chasing trio, closed on leader 3 out, ridden to lead next, stayed on gamely, won at Haydock 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Nov beating Ubaltique (11-2) by 1 1/2l, 5 ran.
Pere Blanc (IRE) 7-2fav (11-8) Settled in mid-division, headway after 4 out, soon tracking leaders, led 2 out, hard driven, stayed on gamely, won at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Mar '11 beating Ostland (10-8) by 4l, 12 ran.
Seymour Legend 200-1 (10-12) Mid-division, driven 3 out, never on terms, weakened next, 7th of 10, well behind Drum Valley (10-12) at Bangor 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Vendor (FR) 3-1fav (11-2) Held up in rear but in touch, effort 3 out, soon under pressure and weakened, last of 6, 29l behind Lyvius (10-7) at Newbury 2m lst hcp hdl (0-150) (1) sft in Nov.
