with leader, led narrowly after 3rd, headed when not fluent and rider lost iron 2 out, kept on same pace, no chance with winner approaching last
chased leaders, hit 5th, reminders and lost place before next, soon struggling and behind, tailed off
led narrowly to after 3rd, with leader, lost place when hit 8th, outpaced 10th, 4th and well held 3 out, plugged on to go moderate 3rd towards finish
tracked leaders, went 2nd 8th, led 2 out, stayed on well, comfortably
tracked leaders, reminders 8th, lost place next, behind when pulled up before 10th
behind, reminders 9th, weakened and pulled up before next
soon struggling in rear, tailed off from 9th, fell 3 out
tracked leaders, outpaced 10th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up after 4 out
in touch, chased leading pair under pressure approaching 4 out, soon no impression, lost moderate 3rd towards finish
Watergate may be worth opposing over this longer trip under top weight while Curragh Dancer didn't beat much here last month and has a penalty to carry today. HUNT BALL also has 7lb extra and his best form so far has been on a sound surface but Keiran Burke's former pointer is very unexposed under Rules and the type to improve further. He gets the nod with old-timer Kappelhoff clearly not the force of old, though he is back over a more suitable distance today. Best of the rest may be Jolibob, though he's now blinkered after a lacklustre effort when favourite at Towcester last month.
Watergate (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Led, mistake 6th, joined when not fluent 2 out, headed when mistake last, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 9, 5l behind Master Milan (11-5) at Plumpton 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gs in Nov.
Curragh Dancer (FR) 5-2 (11-12) Led, blundered 11th, headed 4 out and driven, stayed challenging under pressure, led on inside again flat, kept on gamely, won at Fontwell 2m 4f cnd hcp chs (0-95) (5) gs in Nov beating Ede's (11-10) by 4l, 3 ran.
Bob Casey (IRE) 5-1 (11-2) Tracked leading pair, went 2nd approaching 2nd until 8th, hit next, weakened 4 out, struggling when pulled up before next, in a race won by Ede's (10-2) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp chs 0-95 (5) hvy in Nov, 7 ran.
Hunt Ball (IRE) 6-4fav (10-0) Tracked leader, ridden before 2 out, closed to lead last, stayed on well, driven out, won at Folkestone 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gf in Nov beating Free Speech (11-2) by 3 1/2l, 6 ran.
Benny The Swinger (IRE) 9-1 (11-0) In touch, lost place 7th, soon behind, tailed off, 7th of 10, well behind The Grey One (10-8) at Huntingdon 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Oct.
Killfinnan Castle (IRE) 10-1 (10-1) Tracked leader, led 8th, headed before 2 out, lost 2nd at last, one pace, 5th of 8, 19l behind High Oscar (11-5) at Fontwell 2m 6f cnd hcp chs (0-95) (5) sft in Nov.
Kappelhoff (IRE) 8-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders until lost place 7th, last approaching 10th, tailed off, left poor 3rd last, tailed off, 3rd of 6, well behind Wherrimon (11-12) at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft in Oct.
Jolibob (IRE) 7-4fav (10-0) Tracked leaders, blundered 2nd, not fluent 6th, went 2nd 3 out until approaching next, weakened before next, 4th of 6, 27l behind Bertenbar (11-10) at Towcester 2m 3f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Nov.
Goring Two (IRE) 8-1 (10-10) Tracked leading trio, outpaced 13th, rallied next, weakened 3 out, last of 5, well behind Run To Fly (10-7) at Plumpton 3m 2f nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Oct.
Paddy The Yank (IRE) 15-2 (10-1) Led, narrowly headed after 7th, chased winner until ridden and outpaced before 3 out, rallied from last, almost snatched 3rd, 4th of 7, 27l behind Sablazo (10-3) at Fontwell 2m 2f nov hcp chs 0-100 (5) gs in Nov.
