prominent, lost place 10th, chased leaders 12th, chased winner from 15th, weakened final 100 yards
held up in touch, pushed along after 4 out, weakened after next
held up in touch, led 14th, driven out, held on well
tracked leader, led after 2nd, headed 12th, ridden approaching last, soon weakened
led until after 2nd, tracked leader, led again 12th, headed 14th, ridden after 3 out, kept on from last, always held
in rear, blundered 9th, fell heavily 13th
Nonrunner
Back on a winning mark we will side with CORLANDE to win this amateurs' contest, with Zitenka a danger and Not Left Yet an interesting opponent. The last-named has his first start for Peter Monteith since moving from David Pipe, with whom he won a handicap hurdle from today's mark of 118 back in December 2007. He was sent off just 13/2 for the Welsh National next time out but was unlucky to have slipped up there and he then fell when making good headway in Warwick's Classic Chase after that. That shows that he has had plenty of ability in the context of this race, but he has had just one start in almost two years now and although well handicapped backing him is clearly a risk. Zitenka was in the process of running a nice race in the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle in November before he tipped up, but he has won both his last two completed starts. He remains on the same mark today and acts with plenty of cut, so with a clear round he looks a threat. Silver Sedge took the notable scalp of Money Trix at Ayr this time last year and is 2lbs higher today. However, he has struggled to find the same sort of form since, though the slower ground today may well help him show his true colours. Even so we will side with Corlande, whose last four wins have been on soft or heavy ground, and who hails from a yard in decent form. Generally a 2m 4f performer, he has won over further than today's trip, so stamina is not a concern, and now back on a winning mark he makes most appeal.
Zitenka (IRE) 16-1 (10-4) Held up on outside, fell 11th, in a race won by Beat The Boys (10-12) at Newcastle 3m listed hcp chs (1) gs in Nov, 14 ran.
Silver Sedge (IRE) 22-1 (10-3) Always behind, mistake 8th, ridden and struggling 5 out, tailed off, 7th of 8, well behind Bible Lord (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 4f listed hcp chs (1) gd in Oct.
Or de Grugy (FR) 18-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, outpaced 4 out, kept on same pace from next, no impression, 4th of 10, 14l behind My Arch (10-13) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Nov.
Corlande (IRE) 7-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders, ridden and outpaced approaching 4 out, soon weakened, 7th of 10, 38l behind Stormin Exit (10-8) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) hvy in Jan.
Doc Row (IRE) 12-1 (11-4) Led, headed 5 out, outpaced when mistake next, kept on from 3 out, no impression, 3rd of 8, 15l behind Major Miller (10-13) at Perth 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Apr.
Watch The Wind 16-1 (9-11) Always towards rear, 8th of 15, 23l behind Blacks Bridge (11-6) at Catterick 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Dec.
Not Left Yet (IRE) 10-1 (11-12) Mistakes and never going well in rear, ridden 8th, hit 10th, pulled up before next, in a race won by The Sawyer (11-6) at Newbury 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Jan '09, 15 ran.
