tracked leaders, went 2nd 7th, slight peck 2 out, 3 lengths down last, stayed on well flat, led final strides
soon with leader, led 4th, 3 lengths clear and travelling well when hit last, no extra towards finish, headed final strides
close up, headway to track leading pair from 4 out, travelling okay when fell 2 out
held up, pushed along after 4 out, struggling when not fluent 3 out, left modest 3rd 2 out
slight lead to 4th, chased leader, ridden 6th, lost 2nd next, soon driven along and lost place, left poor 4th 2 out, tailed off
rider lost irons and pulled up after 1st
Sarah Humphrey's Zorro De La Vega has done everything asked of him this season having won each of his three starts in races at Worcester, Fontwell and Ludlow but a 13lb rise for the latest of those successes may prevent him from making it four on the bounce so he looks best watched today and it may be worth siding with PILGRIMS LANE, who gets the vote ahead of Stumped. Stuart Howe's gelding ran well over fences when chasing home Bergo at Kempton last month and has generally been running well over hurdles prior to that so he has solid claims. Huguenot has run creditably in his last couple of starts over hurdles and may do better now that Philip Hobbs switches him back to fences but he is 10lbs higher than when last seen over them. Gary Moore's Vinmix De Bessy looked as though he would come on for his run at Stratford last month and he has to be considered off the same mark as when a well held second behind Overclear. Preference though is for Milton Harris-trained Pilgrims Lane, who was a close second before falling at the last at Stratford last time over fences and, following a confidence boosting run over hurdles at Wetherby last month, he looks worth chancing back over the larger obstacles off a fair mark.
Vinmix De Bessy (FR) 5-1 (11-5) In touch, pushed along 3 out, stayed on to chase winner after last, no impression, 2nd of 6, 27l behind Overclear (11-9) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gf in Oct.
Huguenot (IRE) 7-2fav (10-7) Prominent, led after 5th, headed before 2 out, soon beaten, 6th of 13, 13l behind Dani's Girl (11-4) at Huntingdon 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in Oct.
Zorro De La Vega (FR) 7-4fav (11-9) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 4 out, led 3 out, clear 2 out, ran on well, won at Ludlow 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Oct beating Thievery (10-13) by 11l, 9 ran.
Stumped 13-2 (11-2) Chased leading pair, ridden to chase winner 3 out, kept on, no chance with winner, 2nd of 5, 17l behind Bergo (10-13) at Kempton 2m beg chs (4) gf in Oct.
Green Gamble 14-1 (11-4) Tracked leader to 4 out, soon lost place, ridden and rallied approaching last, stayed on to take 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 6, 2 3/4l behind Professor Higgins (11-12) at Kempton 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in Oct.
Pilgrims Lane (IRE) 20-1 (11-1) Tracked leader, ridden and lost place 3 out, weakened next, 4th of 8, 21l behind Skylancer (11-8) at Wetherby 2m nh nov hdl (3) gd in Oct.
Nesnaas (USA) 10-1 (11-4) Always in rear, weakened 11th, 5th of 6, well behind Nagam (11-8) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in Oct.
