chased leading pair on outside, led and dived at 2 out, headed last, not pace of winner run-in, just lost out in battle for 2nd
chased leader, challenged 4th, hit 4 out, led on outside before 2 out until 2 out, chased leader and every chance until winner went on at the last, just won battle for 2nd
steadied start, pulled hard in last pair, 7th and plenty to do when hit 3 out, travelling well in 4th before 2 out, led on outside at the last, quickened clear run-in
held up tracking leaders 5th, weakened before 3 out
chased leaders on inside, pushed along before 3 out, weakened soon after
held up, hit 2nd, headway chasing leaders in 4th 3 out, pushed along and outpaced on long run before next, soon weakened
led, ridden and headed before 2 out, weakened soon after
led in start, held up last, fell 3rd
held up towards rear, headway on outside chasing leaders after 4th, weakened before 3 out
Ecu De La Noverie didn’t do a lot wrong back over hurdles at Cheltenham and has been dropped a pound since but still has ground to make up on NEVER ADAPT. The latter has only run three times so it will be a surprise if there isn’t plenty more to come from the Henderson five-year-old. Golden Taipan won three times last year and makes his handicap debut so goes on the short-list but Fin And Game failed to land the odds at Haydock and is 3lb higher now. Fransham only beat one home at Huntingdon after winning at Wetherby but is a past winner here, as is Beltor.
Ecu De La Noverie (FR) 9-1 (11-12) Pressed leader, led narrowly after 2 out, driven and headed flat, soon ridden and weakened, 5th of 13, 6 1/2l behind Repetitio (10-2) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Golden Taipan (IRE) 15-2 (11-8) Led until 1st, chased leader until after 3 out, handy 3rd, led last, ridden out, won at Kempton 2m (4) gd in Nov beating Namib Dancer (10-12) by 3/4l, 13 ran.
Never Adapt (FR) 5-1jfav (11-5) Raced keenly, held up behind, headway 2 out, driven to chase leaders on inside turning in, soon hung left and ridden, one pace before last, stayed on towards finish, 3rd of 13, 1 3/4l behind Repetitio (10-2) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Fransham 9-2 (11-12) Looked to be reluctant to race and lost many lengths, well behind until latched on rear of field 5th, weakened after 3 out, eased, 10th of 11, dist behind Tea Clipper (11-11) at Huntingdon 2m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Fin And Game (IRE) 10-11fav (11-6) Chased leaders, mistake 5th, every chance from 2 out, mistake last, no extra closing stages, 2nd of 5, 1 1/4l behind Minella Charmer (11-12) at Haydock 2m hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Beltor 20-1 (11-1) Held up in mid-division, mistake 3rd, headway chasing leaders 4 out, 2nd next until long run before 2 out, weakened into 4th before 2 out, 4th of 10, 13l behind Miranda (10-11) at Kempton 2m hcp (3) sft in Dec.
New Agenda 25-1 (11-7) Led until after 1st, chased leader until after 3 out, beaten next, 7th of 11, 8 1/4l behind Tea Clipper (11-11) at Huntingdon 2m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Peruvien Bleu (FR) 100-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, driven after 3 out, weakened next, 11th of 15, 29 1/4l behind Scaramanga (12-0) at Wincanton 1m 7f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Darkest Day (IRE) 4-1 (11-6) Raced on inside, chased leader until 4 out, chased leaders, outpaced before next, no danger after, 5th of 9, 31l behind Highway One O Two (11-6) at Plumpton 2m (4) hvy in Dec.
