tracked leader, led 3rd, jumped right 4th and 5th, headed before 6th, not fluent 7th, mistake 10th, led again next, headed when mistake 2 out (normal 3 out), no extra last
held up, ridden after 8th, behind and not keen from next, closed after 11th, no impression and well beaten 2 out (normal 3 out)
held up, hit 10th, not fluent and in touch 11th, mistake 2 out (normal 3 out), one pace
tracked leaders, led 10th, headed next, led again 2 out (normal 3 out), ridden and headed after last, no impression towards finish
tracked leaders, went 2nd and ridden after 2 out (normal 3 out), challenged last, soon led, stayed on well
led until 3rd, not fluent next, led after 6th, headed 10th, weakened after next, pulled up before 2 out (normal 3 out)
Perfect Timing won in a canter at Newton Abbot last week but has a penalty to carry here and his only victories have come at the Devon track. He was also beaten by Ladfromhighworth over course and distance in September and Jeremy Scott's charge is 5lb better off, though reappears following an absence. Forever My Friend and the headstrong Halling's Wish have their sights lowered a little and could figure but they may not be able to prevent a sixth course win for VENETIAN LAD. Lydia Richards' grey has never won off a mark this high but showed he was in good heart with victory at Plumpton last month, where the winning margin would have been greater had Mark Goldstein not lost his irons.
Perfect Timing 9-4 (11-7) Tracked leader, led before 10th, clear before 2 out, won at Newton Abbot 2m 5f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in May beating Moorlands Jack (11-11) by 13l, 5 ran.
Forever My Friend (IRE) 6-1 (10-13) Chased winner after 3rd, ridden before 4 out, dropped to 3rd before next, plugged on same pace, weakened and lost modest 3rd at the last, 4th of 6, 36l behind The Nephew (11-12) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Oct.
Halling's Wish 25-1 (11-0) In rear, ridden and weakened before 3 out, 4th of 5, 40l behind Art Mauresque (12-0) at Kempton 2m 4f nov chs (3) gd in May.
Ladfromhighworth 11-4fav (11-1) Chased winner until after 4 out, chased leaders, went 2nd again run in, no impression on winner, weakened into 3rd final 100 yards, 3rd of 5, 9l behind Comeonginger (10-10) at Fontwell 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in Oct.
Venetian Lad 6-1 (11-5) Tracked leading pair, 2nd 3 out, led before 2 out, in command when rider lost iron briefly run-in, won at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in May beating Vikekhal (11-12) by 2 1/4l, 5 ran.
Ashanti Moon (IRE) 7-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, jumped right and bumped 1st, mistake 4th, not fluent and lost place 5th, headway after 11th, led soon after 4 out, mistake 3 out, ridden clear flat, won at Fontwell 2m 4f nov hts chs (6) gd in May '14 beating Mizen Mix (11-7) by 5l, 8 ran.
