mid-division, lost place after 4th, ridden and headway after 7th, led 2 out, stayed on well
held up behind, some progress 7th, weakened 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, headway 4th, mistake 6, weakened approaching 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
in touch, not fluent 7th, soon ridden, kept on same pace from 3 out
held up towards rear, ridden and headway approaching 7th, went 4th next, weakened approaching 2 out
tracked leaders and keen, short of room 6, led 3 out, ridden and headed 2 out, kept on, soon held
keen, led until 3rd, prominent, mistake 7th, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
in touch, short of room and lost place 6, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
tracked leaders, led 3rd, not fluent and headed 3 out, soon weakened
mid-division, headway approaching 7th, ridden and every chance after 3 out, kept on same pace
held up, headway and hampered 6th, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened
prominent, hit 1st, ridden after 6th, weakening when mistake 3 out
keen, held up behind, smooth headway after 3 out, soon ridden, weakened next
in touch, mistake 4th, ridden after 6th, weakened 3 out
Nonrunner
It's hard to get away from Nemetan here. Call Me Sir and Changing Lanes are two of his more interesting adversaries. The selection has been well placed by his connections as he avoids a penalty for his win in a conditional jockeys' race at Exeter where he had Award Winning back in third. He only won narrowly but the first three pulled a long way clear and he has every chance of going in again. The booking of Richard Johnson for Changing Lanes bodes well even allowing for the fact that he rode the horse last time. He's done well when teaming up with Tim Vaughan and this one has to be of interest on its handicap bow. He has been well beaten in all three runs over hurdles but it would be no surprise to see him step up on that form here. Call Me Sir ran the best race of his career when finishing third at this track last time when shaping as though this step up in trip would be just what the doctor ordered. He's just one pound higher and Call Me Sir should be in the mix if building on that run but we'll take Nemetan to complete a quickfire double.
Marigolds Way 7-1 (10-5) Pulled early and held up, ridden and challenged 7th, every chance 2 out, one pace from approaching last, 5th of 11, 12l behind Critical Stage (11-12) at N Abbot 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Apr.
My Old Piano (IRE) 14-1 (10-7) Prominent, ridden when unseated rider 5 out in race won by Atouchbetweenacara (11-11) at Bangor 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Mar, 15 ran.
Cool Alice 25-1 (10-2) Mid-division, ridden 8th, weakened 3 out, 8th of 13, 17l behind Red Echo (11-11) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in Sept.
Captain Becket 8-1 (10-8) Mid-division, ridden 3 out, headway 2 out, led flat, pushed out, won at Exeter 2m 3f nov sll hdl (5) gs in Mar beating Award Winning (10-12) by 3l, 12 ran.
Call Me Sir (IRE) 33-1 (10-3) Pulled early and held up, headway after 3 out, stayed on to go 3rd approaching last, 3rd of 14, 3 1/2l behind Le Beau Bai (10-11) at N Abbot 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Apr.
Nemetan (FR) 15-8fav (11-4) Chased leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, challenging when not fluent last, led flat, driven out, won at Exeter 2m 3f cnd nov hcp hdl (5) gd beating Prince Broc (11-8) by a nk, 18 ran.
Max Yasgar (IRE) 5-1co-fav (11-0) Held up in touch, weakened before 4th, behind when pulled up 3 out in race won by Colourful Life (11-7) at Stratford 2m 6f cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Sept, 14 ran.
Award Winning (IRE) 10-1 (10-13) Chased leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, kept on same pace from last, 3rd of 18, 3 1/2l behind Nemetan (11-4) at Exeter 2m 3f cnd nov hcp hdl (5) gd.
Colorado Storm 100-1 (10-12) Behind from 6th, blundered and unseated rider 5 out in race won by Hora (10-9) at Hereford 2m 4f mrs nov hdl (4) gd, 15 ran.
Changing Lanes 50-1 (11-2) Behind from 6th, 9th of 16, well behind Punchestowns (11-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nov hdl (3) gd in Mar.
Kilcoe Castle (IRE) 40-1 (10-12) In touch, headway 7th, soon ridden, weakened 2 out, 9th of 18, 24l behind Nemetan (11-4) at Exeter 2m 3f cnd nov hcp hdl (5) gd.
Orion Star (IRE) 50-1 (11-0) Put keen hold, in touch, mistake 2nd, dropped rear 4th, no chance from 7th, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Quickbeam (11-12) at Stratford 2m 6f nov hdl (3) sft in Apr, 12 ran.
Grumpy Bee (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) Held up, headway after 5th, weakened after 7th, 7th of 8, well behind Forest Pennant (11-9) at Taunton 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Feb.
Monashee Grey (IRE) 13-2 (11-4) Always prominent, chased leader after 4 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 14, 26l behind Bonnie Rock (11-9) at Newcastle 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Mar.
Jerry Lee (IRE) 28-1 (10-4) In touch, not much room 2nd, ridden 6th, mistake next, behind when pulled up in race won by Harbour Breeze (11-12) at Hereford 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Nov, 16 ran.
