led until 5th, chased leader, ridden after 3 out, kept on same pace
tracking leaders when blundered badly 3rd, never travelling after, pulled up before 12th
tracked leaders, went 2nd after 9th until after 4 out, weakened next
held up, hit 2nd, reminders after 9th, weakened 5 out, pulled up before 3 out
chased leaders, hit 10th, ridden after 4 out, soon weakened
prominent, jumped left, led 5th, ridden and headed soon after 3 out, kept on same pace
held up, ridden and steady progress from 11th, led soon after 3 out, stayed on, ridden out
Salhood, Manbow and Mister Quasimodo look to be the pick of the bunch here and the vote goes to the last named. Mister Quasimodo was the very easy winner of an Exeter chase last month before running third here behind champion chaser Voy Por Ustedes over two miles a week later. He handles plenty of cut in the ground and has already won at this sort of trip, and with the yard going great guns he is taken to score. Manbow drops back in trip, which is not a huge worry, and in his case it it the ground that is of more concern. He also has a stiff enough mark to contend with, and having never won on ground worse than good to soft, plus the fact that he saves his best for Wetherby, he is opposed. Salhood is raised 7lb for outpointing Waterspray at Doncaster last time and there is every chance that he will go very well again on ground that he can act upon. However, this career high mark is likely to find him out. Conditions will certainly suit Nicky Richards' runner and he will be better for his first run, so he should go close. A real decent contest this one, and the vote goes to Mister Quasimodo.
Ever Present (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) Led, mistake 9th, mistake 12th, headed approaching 3 out, soon beaten, 4th of 8, 46l behind Patricksnineteenth (11-0) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Dec.
Mister Quasimodo 10-1 (11-6) Led to 7th, remained in 3rd, driven and plugged on at same pace from 4 out, 3rd of 7, 12l behind Voy Por Ustedes (11-10) at Kempton 2m chs Grd 2 (1) gs in Dec.
Yaboya (IRE) 9-1 (11-8) Mid-division, headway fifth, ridden to challenge 4 out, every chance 2 out, weakening when mistake last, 6th of 9, 30l behind Nougat de L'Isle (11-1) at Newbury 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Dec.
Manbow (IRE) 9-2 (11-2) Chased leaders, led 4 out, headed last, one pace, 2nd of 5, 2l behind Notanotherdonkey (9-12) at Wetherby 3m 2f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gf in Nov.
Roznic (FR) 7-1 (11-11) Chased leader until 8th, chased leader again 10th until 13th, soon ridden, one pace from 3 out, 5th of 7, 15l behind Surfboard (11-6) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Dec.
Alphabetical (IRE) 7-1 (11-10) Mid-division when blundered and unseated rider at the 2nd in race won by Basic Fact (10-11) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Dec, 16 ran.
Randwick Roar (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) Mid-division, ridden 2 out, soon no impression, mistake 2 out, 6th of 8, 22l behind Lidjo De Rouge (10-1) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd.
Salhood 3-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, headway to challenge when blundered badly 4 out, stayed on under pressure to lead before last, ridden right out, won at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gf in Dec beating Waterspray (11-9) by 3 1/2l, 7 ran.
Alfadora 13-2 (10-6) Held up, effort approaching 4 out, weakened after 3 out, 7th of 9, 32l behind Nougat de L'Isle (11-1) at Newbury 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Dec.
