with leader early, mid-division, outpaced before 5 out
led to 3rd, tracked leader, weakened from 4 out, tailed off
tracked leaders in 4th, led 3rd, headed after 4th, lost 2nd when mistake 2 out, no extra
tracked leaders in 3rd, ridden 4 out, chased winner from 2 out, no impression
in rear, weakened from 8th
held up in touch, led after 4th, pecked 7th, clear before 2 out, easily
towards rear, headway 8th, ridden before 3 out, soon weakened
Ergo Sum opened his account over fences with a victory at Doncaster last month and has a 7lb rise to contend with. Prince De Marais has struggled since winning at Stratford in October while Less Time remains out of sorts. Vent Nivernais went close over fences in France but never figured over timber on his UK debut and SILVER VOGUE is preferred. The latter made a promising start over fences with a second at Sedgefield and Sue Smith's charge is also preferred to Alla Svelta in this.
Prince Des Marais (FR) 50-1 (11-2) Led until 3 out, no extra last, 5th of 11, 24l behind The Ould Lad (11-10) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs in Nov.
Ergo Sum 7-2fav (11-4) Led, jumped right virtually throughout, headed 3 out, ridden and 2 lengths down in 2nd before next, rallied to regain lead last, kept on when hard pressed towards finish, held on, won at Doncaster 2m 3f 5yo nov hcp (4) sft in Jan beating Crown And Glory (10-1) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Alla Svelta (IRE) 8-1 (11-9) Bumped 1st, led until 4 out, weakened before left in modest 4th 3 out, 4th of 6, 12l behind Kerryhead Storm (10-10) at Taunton 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Jan.
Ready Token (IRE) 12-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, not fluent 2nd, went prominent next, one pace 3 out, no impression, 4th of 10, 15l behind Sun Wild Life (11-4) at Taunton 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Jan.
Vent Nivernais (FR) 33-1 (11-11) Tracked leaders, lost place 4th, 6th and struggling 3 out, soon weakened, 6th of 12, 30l behind Vesuvhill (11-3) at Warwick 2m nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Jan.
Less Time (IRE) 9-2 (11-0) Mistakes, took keen hold, held up in 4th, mistakes 5th and 8th, blundered next, weakened 10th, in rear when pulled up next, in a race won by Winston Churchill (10-2) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (4) hvy in Jan, 5 ran.
Silver Vogue 9-4 (11-2) Held up behind, in touch when blundered 7th, switched outside before 10th, outpaced in 4th next, switched inside and rallied to lead after 2 out, ridden and headed narrowly after last, kept on, just held, 2nd of 6, 1/2l behind Runswick Days (10-13) at Sedgefield 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Nov.
