held up towards rear, mistakes 3rd and 5th, weakened approaching 2 out
held up towards rear, headway after 3 out, close enough 4th when not fluent last, no extra flat
tracked leaders, took keen hold, 2nd when not fluent 2 out, stayed on same pace
held up in rear, took keen hold, saddle slipped and headway after 2nd, led before next, hit 4th, went clear until after 3 out, headed before 2 out, weakened approaching last
mid-division, headway on inside when short of room after 3 out, went 2nd 2 out, stayed on same pace flat
tracked leaders, led approaching 2 out, stayed on well
tracked leaders, outpaced after 3 out, weakened next
led until approaching 3rd, prominent, ridden after 3 out, weakened approaching last
held up in rear, not fluent 2nd or 6th, last when mistake 3 out, soon lost touch
Ange Guerrier has won four times on the Flat but has yet to show much aptitude for hurdling, though this only his fourth start and a first in handicaps. If he fails to fire again, the penalised DORMOUSE looks capable of stepping into the breech as he beat the well-backed Shallow Bay a shade cosily at Warwick. J'Adhere has ability but lacks a recent run while Caunay was found out at Fontwell last time and has gone up 7lb since. Den Maschine should do better back on fast ground and, along with C&D winner Dancewiththedevil, looks the pick of the remainder.
Den Maschine 25-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, headway after 7th, ridden 2 out, 4th and no extra last, 5th of 13, 13l behind Drumbaloo (11-12) at Chepstow 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Oct.
Dormouse 20-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, headway 3 out, closed on clear leader approaching 2 out, not fluent and led last, edged right flat, ran on, won at Warwick 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf beating Shallow Bay (11-9) by 4 1/2l, 10 ran.
Ange Guerrier (FR) 12-1 (10-11) Held up in rear, pulled hard early, never in contention, well held after 3 out, 6th of 9, 20l behind Court In Session (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m mdn hdl (3) gf in Oct.
J'Adhere (FR) 10-1 (11-5) Took keen hold, held up towards rear, headway on inside before 3 out, pushed along in 6th when short of room on bend after 3 out, well held when blundered 2 out, weakened before last, 7th of 16, 19l behind Piper's Song (10-7) at Stratford 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Jun.
Dancewiththedevil (IRE) 5-1 (11-8) Held up in touch, headway to lead approaching 2 out, headed soon after 2 out, lost 2nd and weakened between last 2, 3rd of 7, 13l behind Right Stuff (11-7) at Kempton 2m cond hcp hdl 0-1115 (4) gd in Oct.
Beside The Fire 6-1 (11-5) In rear, soon lost touch, pulled up before 6th, in a race won by Dominican Monk (11-12) at Newton Abbot 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in May, 8 ran.
Caunay 11-4fav (10-9) In touch in chasing group, behind approaching 7th, tailed off and pulled up before last, in a race won by Not So Sure Dick (11-8) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Oct, 11 ran.
Timocracy 11-2 (11-12) Led, ridden after 3 out, headed approaching last where not fluent, edged right flat, lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 11, 7l behind Nicky Nutjob (9-10) at Hereford 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Aug.
Aureate 66-1 (10-13) Held up, some headway on outside before 4th, in last pair after 7th, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Henry Hook (11-5) at Taunton 3m nov hcp 0-115 (4) gs in Mar, 10 ran.
