held up mid-division, ridden and weakened 11th
held up, steady headway 10th, ridden to chase leaders 4 out, one pace 2 out
with leader to 10th, weakened 12th, behind when mistake last
jumped right 1st, mistake in mid-division 2nd, soon behind, ridden and outpaced 11th, stayed on well from 2 out and mistake last
in touch, ridden 11th, soon weakened
prominent and always going well, led 12th, clear 3 out, hit last
led, headed 12th, ridden chased winner 4 out, one pace 2 out
always in rear
mid-division, headway 5th, weakened 10th, lost touch and pulled up before 3 out
towards rear and keen, headway 11th, chased leading trio from 4 out, soon weakened
mid-division, lost place 4th, slow jump next, tailed off soon after, pulled up after 9th
This is quite a competitive event and Good Lord Luis just gets the nod over Mark Equal and Lord Dundaniel. The selection hasn't raced since September when a very impressive winner at Hereford. He easily accounted for Danish Decorum, and as that winner scored emphatically next time out, the form is rock solid. Mark Equal was a little outclassed at Cheltenham last time but had previously done well against this type of opponents. He should be capable of making the places. Lord Dundaniel came a cropper at Ludlow last time but looks very well treated on the pick of his previous form and he should be involved in the finish. Lord Strickland can also be expected to go well despite top-weight, but on this occasion we will side with his stable companion Good Lord Luis.
Lord Strickland 5-1 (11-9) Held up last and not jump well, headway 12th, weakened 4 out, beaten when mistake 3 out, 3rd of 4, well behind Palouse (11-0) at Taunton 3m hcp chs 0-120 (D) frm in Oct.
Mark Equal 11-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, headway and in touch 10th, weakened after 3 out, 6th of 12, 28l behind Andreas (10-9) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs 0-135 (C) gd in Apr.
Dun An Doras (IRE) 9-2 (11-10) Chased leaders until 10th, one pace from 4 out, 5th of 8, 25l behind Duchamp (11-11) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp chs 0-125 (D) gd in Feb.
Good Lord Louis (IRE) 9-1 (11-7) Held up, went 2nd at 7th, led approaching 9th, ridden after 2 out, kept on well, won at Hereford 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-110 (E) gf in Sept beating Danish Decorum (11-1) by 19l, 4 ran.
Lord Dundaniel (IRE) 5-2fav (11-0) Held up, hit 3rd, mistake and fell at the 5th in race won by Tigers Lair (11-0) at Ludlow 2m 4f nov chs (D) gd, 8 ran.
Fear Siuil (IRE) 14-1 (11-8) Always behind and one pace, ridden 8th, no impression, 4th of 8, well behind Ojays Alibi (10-12) at N Abbot 2m 5f hcp chs 0-120 (D) gd in Apr.
Yvanovitch (FR) 15-2 (11-12) Held up fell at the 4th in race won by Silver Samuel (9-11) at Hereford 3m 1f hcp chs 0-105 (E) gf in Apr, 7 ran.
Paxford Jack 10-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, led approaching 3 out, soon ridden, headed soon after last, no extra close home, 2nd of 8, hd behind Our Jolly Swagman (11-0) at N Abbot 2m 5f sll hcp chs 0-100 (F) gf.
