always behind
chased leaders, mistake 12th, soon weakened
held up, headway 12th, hit 4 out, ridden after 2 out, weakened last
held up, headway 12th, led 2 out, driven clear flat
led to 2nd, led again after 5th to 7th, led again 10th to 13th, jumped left 4 out, ridden and every chance 3 out, weakened 2 out
mid-division, mistake 8th, ridden 10th, weakened before next
held up, headway 10th, led 13th, ridden and headed 2 out, hung left and weakened flat
led 2nd, headed after 5th, led again 7th to 10th, weakened 14th
in touch, lost place 14th, stayed on flat
In this handicap, Another Native gets the vote, with his biggest dangers reckoned to be Victory Gunner and Koumba. Another Native is on a roll, having won his last two and, having looked progressive along the way, he can defy a further rise in the ratings. Raised nine pounds for his Boxing Day success, Victory Gunner will find this a bit tougher, especially off topweight, while a nine-pounds rise for his Newbury win will test Koumba, progressive that he might be. Lord Brock looked very promising in 2003/4 but has an absence to overcome, while you could build a case for Special Conquest based on his novice form, but he will have to build on this season's form - including when being pulled up behind Koumba at Newbury - to get into the shake-up. Of course, Valleymore remains well-weighted based on his 2003 winning form, but more recent form is patchy. All of which returns us to the selection, which is Another Native.
Victory Gunner (IRE) 10-1 (11-4) Jumped slowly, headway 10th, ridden approaching 3 out, led 2 out, driven out, won at Market Rasen 3m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (D) gs in Dec beating Fin Bec (10-5) by 7l, 11 ran.
Koumba (FR) 25-1 (11-3) Always prominent, led 9th to 10th, led again 11th, ridden 3 out, drew clear approaching last, stayed on well, won at Newbury 3m nov hcp chs 0-120 (D) gd in Nov beating King of Gothland (10-10) by 7l, 12 ran.
Another Native (IRE) 15-8fav (10-13) Held up, headway after 7th, led on bit 3 out, cheekily, won at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp chs 0-120 (D) hvy in Dec beating Major Benefit (11-5) by a nk, 6 ran.
Lord Brock 7-2jt-fav (11-2) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 7th, ridden and every chance 3 out, weakened quickly and pulled up 3 out in race won by Alagon (10-13) at Bangor 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gd in Mar, 10 ran.
Special Conquest 25-1 (11-4) Led to 2nd, prominent until 11th, soon struggling, tailed off when pulled up at the last in race won by Koumba (11-3) at Newbury 3m nov hcp chs 0-120 (D) gd in Nov, 12 ran.
Bannister Lane 40-1 (11-2) Held up, pushed along 10th, weakened next, 5th of 6, 30l behind Nadover (10-7) at Bangor 2m 4f nov chs (D) hvy in Dec.
Toon Trooper (IRE) 16-1 (11-5) Held up, headway and mistake 9th, ridden after 3 out, kept on to go 2nd at last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 12, 7l behind Lost In Normandy (10-0) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (E) hvy in Dec.
Point 20-1 (11-12) Held up, not fluent 2nd, blundered 11th, headway 5 out, chased leaders next, weakened approaching last, 4th of 16, 6l behind Moscow Gold (9-13) at Ludlow 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-95 (F) gd in Dec.
Valleymore (IRE) 8-1 (10-11) In touch, lost place 6th, behind when hampered 9th, tailed off, 7th of 10, well behind Another Native (10-9) at Haydock 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-120 (D) sft in Dec.
Ironside (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Led to 2nd, chased leaders until approaching 9th, 7th of 15, well behind Moustique de L'Isle (11-2) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp hdl 0-110 (E) hvy in Dec.
