held up in touch, headway 3 out, soon chasing leaders, stayed on under pressure, nearest finish
pulled hard tracking leaders, awkward 8th, soon pushed along, hit next, weakened before 2 out
tracked leaders, lost place approaching 9th, soon behind, pulled up 3 out
held up in rear, hampered 5th, headway 7th, soon chasing leaders, weakened after 4 out, pulled up before next
led until 3rd, led again before next, blundered and unseated rider 5th
raced in rear but in touch, pushed along 8th, soon beaten
held up in rear, headway 9th, chased leaders 3 out, soon hard ridden, weakened next
prominent, led 3rd, headed before next, left in lead 5th, hard driven before 2 out, stayed on well under pressure
In a low-key finale we're going to take a chance on WHITCOMBE SPIRIT in the hope that first-time blinkers help recapture his enthusiasm. Jamie Poulton's six-year-old has yet to make the frame in five starts over hurdles but is gradually slipping down the handicap and proved he was a stayer on the Flat. McCoy will probably have to be at his very best to get Sir John's head in front, but Crystal Prince has been threatening to add to his win over 2m here a year ago recently and Tocatchaprince should be fit after a spin on the all-weather last month. Doctored's third over 2m2f here in November was his best effort for a while and that also puts him on the short list.
Crystal Prince 6-1 (10-7) Held up in rear, steady headway to close enough 6th when hit 3 out, 4th when blundered 2 out, no impression soon after, 4th of 11, 23l behind Silver Accord (11-7) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Oct.
Whitcombe Spirit 14-1 (11-8) Held up mid-division, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off, 6th of 10, 50l behind Pete The Feat (11-1) at Fontwell 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) hvy in Nov.
Sir John 20-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, 6 lenghts 3rd when fell 2 out, in a race won by Woodlands Gem (10-7) at Ludlow 3m cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Nov, 13 ran.
Tocatchaprince (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, headway over 3f out, no impression final 2f, 6th of 11, 12l behind Blue Monster (11-0) at Kempton 2m Nat Hunt Flat (4yo+) (AWT) (4) std in Dec.
Snow Patrol 100-1 (10-7) Chased leader until 6f out, ridden over 3f out, well held over 2f out, 6th of 10, 8l behind Chain Of Command (11-0) at Kempton 2m Nat Hunt Flat (4yo+) (AWT) (4) std in Dec.
Form And Beauty (IRE) 6-1 (10-2) Behind and not fluent, not on terms when went 6th 2 out, went 4th latter stages, never dangerous, 4th of 9, 19l behind Bedarra Boy (11-9) at Hereford 2m nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Nov.
Little Roxy (IRE) 66-1 (10-4) In touch in mid-division, lost place over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 10, 9l behind Giorgio Quercus (11-0) at Kempton 2m Nat Hunt Flat (4yo+) (AWT) (4) std in Dec.
Arctic Flow 125-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, ridden after 5th, weakened well before 7th, tailed off, 7th of 14, well behind Alpine Breeze (10-10) at Southwell 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gd in Jun.
Doctored 12-1 (10-1) Held up in touch, pushed along and lost place after 6th, headway approaching 3 out, went 3rd after 2 out, no impression, 3rd of 6, 8l behind Ban Uisce (11-5) at Plumpton 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft in Nov.
