close up, disputing 4th place, chased leading pair from 6th, ridden to challenge 3 out, one pace before last
disputing close 4th place until mistake and lost place 3rd, rallied to 2nd next, led soon after 3 out, kept on from last until headed and not pace of winner towards finish
chased leading pair until lost place 8th, no danger after, left modest 4th 2 out
led, strongly pressed 3, out soon headed, weakened and blundered last
chased leader until 4th, soon lost place, rear and lost touch 8th, rallied under pressure before 2 out, no danger
held up, in touch, headway to chase leaders after 4 out, chased leader before last, soon challenging, quickened and pushed along to lead towards finish
held up in touch, headway 4 out, chased leaders next, well held in 4th when blundered and unseated rider 2 out
Nonrunner
A race somewhat unusual given the amount of claiming riders involved and CONSIGLIERE can take the race at the expense of Panjo Bere and Song Of Songs. David Pipe's yard have returned in some form and the drop in trip could make all the difference this afternoon. A winner over chase fences at Newbury, his recent effort over hurdles at Kempton can be safely overlooked. Panjo Bere has a touch of class about him. A Grade 2 winner as a novice, he was dropped 2lb since finishing fifth at Cheltenham last time out. Song Of Songs can be quite troublesome in the preliminaries. He has the ability to win races though often compromises it through making the odd blunder at the fences. Russian Flag invariably finishes close up and is sure to run up to his mark again. Lorient Express and Freds Benefit both have a bit to prove having finished well beaten on their most recent start. Zacharova takes a steep drop in trip having disappointed over further. Consigliere is capable of showing his form with trip and going in his favour and is the one to beat in the finale.
Panjo Bere (FR) 8-1 (11-3) Behind, hit 8th headway 11th, stayed on same pace on long run to last, 5th of 12, 11l behind French Opera (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs 0-130 (2) sft in Dec.
Consigliere (FR) 9-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, went 2nd 3 out, ridden and weakened before next, 6th of 13, 33l behind Micheal Flips (10-11) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl (2) sft in Jan.
Song of Songs 8-1 (11-9) Held up in rear, not fluent 4th, hit 6th, struggling 4 out, stayed on from 2 out, went 4th flat, never dangerous, 4th of 10, 17l behind Consigliere (11-2) at Newbury 2m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Nov.
Freds Benefit (IRE) 5-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, weakened approaching 4 out, 7th of 8, 46l behind Oiseau de Nuit (10-4) at Ffos Las 2m hcp chs 0-125 (2) sft in Jan.
Zacharova (IRE) 66-1 (9-7) Mid-division, weakened just after halfway, pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Dream Alliance (10-8) at Chepstow 3m 5f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) hvy in Dec, 18 ran.
Russian Flag (FR) 4-1 (11-7) Held up in touch, chased winner 2 out, kept on, always held, 2nd of 8, 1 3/4l behind Bleak House (11-7) at Doncaster 2m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Jan.
Lordsbridge (USA) 9-1 (10-13) Hampered 1st, held up, headway to join winner 8th, ridden 2 out, kept on same pace approaching last, no impression flat, 2nd of 7, 9l behind Call Me A Legend (10-12) at Ascot 2m 1f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Jan.
Lorient Express (FR) 14-1 (10-13) Led, headed approaching 4th, tracked leader, led 4 out, headed approaching 2 out, one pace, 3rd of 8, 11l behind Oiseau de Nuit (10-4) at Ffos Las 2m hcp chs 0-125 (2) sft in Jan.
