led, jumped slowly 1st, ridden and headed 3 out, soon one pace, hit last
tracked leader, headway approaching 4 out, soon ridden, no impression
held up behind, fell 5th
in touch, headway approaching 4 out, soon ridden, kept on one pace
mid-division, smooth headway to challenge 4 out, led next, driven out flat easily
Nonrunner
Clouding Over has an obvious chance on all known form and is taken to follow up his recent Huntingdon success with Lanaken rated the most likely to claim the forecast spot ahead of Ton-Chee. The last mentioned has been given a beak following a couple of disappointing efforts over hurdles but has yet to prove himself over the larger obstacles so he may be best watched. Goodbadindiferent and Not A Trace need to improve on what they have shown in the past to take a hand and a bigger danger is likely to come from Lanaken, who won a novices' handicap at Musselburgh last time. This looks tougher though and a reproduction of last time out form at Huntingdon should suffice for Clouding Over.
El Andaluz (FR) 14-1 (10-2) Tracked winner, outpaced and jumped left 11th, stayed on from last, 3rd of 9, 8l behind Lanaken (11-0) at Musselburgh 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-105 (E) gf in Nov.
Goodbadindiferent (IRE) 6-1 (10-8) In touch, ridden 4 out, no impression, 6th of 9, 17l behind Lanaken (11-0) at Musselburgh 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-105 (E) gf in Nov.
Magic Box 16-1 (10-5) In touch, effort 2 out, soon outpaced, 6th of 10, 10l behind Dante's Brook (10-12) at Hexham 2m nov chs (E) gd in Oct '04.
Sandy Bay (IRE) 33-1 (10-4) Towards rear, never dangerous, 17th of 18, well behind You Do The Math (11-4) at Kelso 2m 2f amt hcp hdl (F) gs.
Ton-Chee 18-1 (11-5) Led, headed approaching 2 out, soon ridden and weakened, 7th of 10, 22l behind Lofty Leader (10-9) at Carlisle 2m 1f cnd hcp hdl 0-110 (E) gf in Oct.
Clouding Over 15-8 (11-3) Held up, chased leader 10th, led 2 out, ridden and ran on flat, won at Huntingdon 2m 4f mrs nov chs (D) gd beating Bonnet's Pieces (11-3) by 12l, 5 ran.
Lanaken (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Made all, joined 10th, ridden 4 out, kept on best, won at Musselburgh 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-105 (E) gf in Nov beating Word Gets Around (11-3) by 3l, 9 ran.
Not A Trace (IRE) 11-2 (11-7) Tracked leaders, hit 3 out, driven and outpaced next, soon no impression, 4th of 13, 10l behind Saucy King (11-5) at Carlisle 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-90 (F) gf in Oct.
