held up, left 3rd when slightly hampered 5th, weakened after 10th, tailed off
ran in snatches in rear, last when fell 10th
made all, pecked 5th, drew well clear after 10th, unchallenged
took keen hold, tracked winner, no impression after 10th, well beaten when blundered badly 4 out
tracked leaders, fell 5th
Malcolm Jefferson's Lord Larsson deserves to get his head in front over fences having found one too good in each of his last three starts and he has shown better form over the larger obstacles of late but may have to settle for a place again. George Moore's Greenbelt has run well over fences before but disappointed when pulled up at Wetherby recently and of more interest may be Tim Fitzgerald's Mr Syntax, who is rated higher over hurdles but lacks any chasing experience. Howard Johnson's THE KNOXS was easily the pick of these over timber though, is bred to appreciate the switch to fences and he can make a winning debut over them.
Chester Ridge 14-1 (11-9) Chased leaders to 14th, soon weakened and behind, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Quotica De Poyans (11-7) at Kelso 3m 1f hts chs (5) gs in Mar, 13 ran.
Greenbelt 10-1 (10-6) Held up, not fluent and ridden from 7th, in rear next, behind when hit 10th, pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Film Festival (11-9) at Wetherby 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Oct, 7 ran.
Lord Larsson 7-2 (11-5) Held up in touch, soon tracking leaders and keen, led 8th, headed flat, no extra and always held by winner towards finish, 2nd of 8, 3/4l behind Shopfrontspecialst (11-5) at Sedgefield 2m 4f beg chs (4) gd in Sep.
Mr Syntax (IRE) 4-11fav (11-0) Tracked winner, hit 1st and 5th, challenged and hit 3 out, ridden and held before 2 out, 2nd of 6, 7l behind Cailin Na Ri (10-7) at Sedgefield 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gf in Apr.
The Knoxs (IRE) 7-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders, not fluent 9th, weakened approaching 2 out, eased, tailed off, last of 5, well behind Meath All Star (11-6) at Perth 3m nov hdl (2) gd in Apr.
