led, jumped left 3rd, not fluent 6th, not fluent and headed next, led again 8th, ridden and headed before 3 out, hit 2 out, every chance last, stayed on, always just held flat
soon tracking leaders on inside, ridden and weakened before 3 out
with leader, led 7th until 8th, led before 3 out, strongly pressed, hung right flat, driven out
held up towards rear, mistake 7th, ridden and struggling after next
held up, closed 3rd, jumped slowly 8th, pressing leaders before 3 out, soon switched right, edged right before 2 out, close 3rd when mistake last, one pace and no impression flat
in rear, jumped slowly 2nd, ridden and struggling after 8th
held up, took keen hold, in rear when mistakes 7th and 8th, soon well behind
tracked leaders, not fluent 1st, lost place next, mistake 3rd, closed after 8th, soon pushed along, no extra 3 out
chased leaders, every chance before 3 out where not fluent, beaten next, no extra when mistake last
took keen hold, prominent, lost place 6th, headway after 8th, not fluent and one pace 2 out, stayed on flat
held up, not fluent 2nd, bumped 7th, ridden and struggling after next, no threat after
mid-division on outside, headway after 8th, outpaced by leaders and no impression before 3 out
Chicoria made a winning reappearance when unfancied at Aintree but she only prevailed by a nose and the second and third have been beaten since so the form looks fragile. She also has a penalty to carry here and SUPERIOR FIRE ran well for a long way on his hurdling debut at Huntingdon. The form of that race, by contrast, has been franked and Charlie Longsdon's gelding can open his account today. Destiny's Gold should improve on his Cheltenham third and rates a danger but ex-pointers Freddy Fox and Horsehill will probably do better over fences and neither Paddy Mulligan nor Stand Aside have shown much so far.
Chicoria (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders in 3rd, ridden and headway after last, kept on to lead post, won at Aintree 2m 4f NH nov hdl 4-6yo (4) gd in Oct beating Champagne Present (10-12) by ns, 5 ran.
Destiny's Gold (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Mid-division, in touch 4 out, chased leading pair before next, ridden and no impression after 2 out, held on for modest 3rd flat, 3rd of 10, 23l behind Commissioned (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m mdn hdl (3) gd in Oct.
Ewings (IRE) 12-1 (10-12) With leader, led before 2nd, not flent 5th or 6th, headed after 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 6, 41l behind Brother Tedd (10-12) at Kempton 2m 5f nov hdl (4) gs.
Freddy Fox (IRE) 12-1 (10-6) In touch in mid-division, not fluent 7th, soon ridden, weakened 2 out, tailed off, 6th of 13, well behind Native River (10-13) at Stratford 2m 6f mdn hdl (5) gd in Oct.
Horsehill (IRE) 3-1 (12-2) Tr ldrs, 3rd 1/2way, gd prog to ld 2out, qckn 3l clr appr str, sn in command run-in, comfortably, won at Loughanmore 3m ire ptp gd in Apr beating Crack Of Thunder (11-6) by 5l, 13 ran.
If It Be Your Will Kadastrof gelding out of My Beautiful Loser.
Kings River (FR) 50-1 (11-0) Mid-division, ridden before 4 out, soon weakened, 12th of 16, well behind Warrantor (11-0) at Chepstow 2m NH mdn hdl (4) sft.
Paddy Mulligan (IRE) 14-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, effort before 2f out, plugged on from over 1f out, 5th of 11, 22l behind Professor Plum (11-2) at Sedgefield 2m 1f NH flat (6) gs in Oct.
Stand Aside (IRE) 4-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, pushed along over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 6th of 14, 33l behind Missed Approach (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m NH flat (6) gs in Oct.
Superior Fire (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) Mid-division, pushed along chasing leaders after 4 out, well held in 4th before next, 4th of 12, 23l behind Ordo Ab Chao (11-5) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs.
Tinos Tank (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) In touch, ridden and lost place 4f out, weakened 2f out, 9th of 14, 22l behind Broughtons Rhythm (11-3) at Stratford 2m NH flat (5) gs in Mar.
Titans Approach (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Held up in mid-division, in touch 5f out, soon ridden, lost place over 3f out, last of 8, 22l behind El Namoose (11-10) at Huntingdon 2m NH flat (6) sft in Oct.
