led until after 1st, pressed leader, bumped 6th, weakened after 13th, pulled up approaching 4 out
tracked leaders, ridden after 13th, 3rd and beaten when hit 2 out, weakened flat
held up towards rear on outside, ridden 9th, behind when jumped badly left 12th, soon pulled up
held up towards rear, headway 12th, weakened 3 out
led after 1st, headed 10th, weakened approaching 4 out, tailed off
held up in touch, carried right 5th, jumped slowly and ridden next, weakened 12th, pulled up before 4 out
held up, mistake 11th, always in rear, tailed off
prominent, jumped right 5th and when bumped next, weakened approaching 11th, pulled up before 4 out
mid-division, hit 7th, ridden and struggling 13th, behind 4 out, soon pulled up
held up in rear, pecked 1st, headway approaching 11th, weakened before 3 out, tailed off
held up in touch, closed 6th, challenged 13th, led when jumped left 3 out, went left again next, stayed on well
prominent, mistake 2nd, soon lost place, behind 7th, jumped left next, pulled up before 11th
held up, struggling 13th, tailed off
mid-division, headway 7th, led 10th, headed approaching 3 out, switched left after last, no impression
Another tricky puzzle for punters to solve but Hunt Ball shouldn't be far away again, despite going down narrowly at Plumpton last time. General Kutuzov did a little better at Newbury on his latest start and could be on the way back, while Autumm Spirit came up against a progressive sort at Ludlow on her latest outing. Kilcrea Asla is only a pound higher than when runner-up to Tamarinbleu at Haydock and has to go on the short-list while Not So Sure Dick was a decent second back over fences at Warwick, but the vote goes to BUFFALO BOB. He's now 4lb lower than his last winning mark and recent runs at Newbury and Aintree have been most encouraging. Johnny Mullen may be best of the rest.
Busy Isit 3-1 (11-12) Jumped well, tracked leader, led 4th, made rest, kept on well from 3 out, readily, won at Kempton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Apr '10 beating Royal Kicks (9-11) by 3l, 7 ran.
Inside Dealer (IRE) 3-1fav (10-5) Close up on outside, headway to chase winner 10th, upsides when blundered 3 out, disputing lead when badly bumped unbalanced and fell 2 out, in a race won by Fruity O'Rooney (11-7) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-140 (3) gd in Dec, 12 ran.
Safari Journey (USA) 14-1 (11-7) Held up, always behind, 12th of 14, well behind Cruchain (10-9) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd.
Prince du Seuil (FR) 13-2 (11-8) Mid-division, under pressure approaching 6th, soon lost place, pulled up 4 out, in a race won by Oscar Gogo (10-9) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy in Dec, 15 ran.
Buffalo Bob (IRE) 5-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, mistake 3rd (the chair), behind 10th (bechers brook), headway from 15th, no impression after 2 out, went well held 3rd after last, 3rd of 14, 33l behind Stewarts House (11-8) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs (2) hvy in Dec.
General Kutuzov (IRE) 14-1 (11-6) Led, narrowly headed 13th, chased leader, bumped 17th, led again after 17th, headed before next, weakened before 3 out, 5th of 8, 42l behind Rey Nacarado (11-2) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Dec.
Kilcrea Asla (IRE) 9-1 (10-0) Held up, headway 10th, went 2nd 4 out, led 3 out, ridden after 2 out, headed towards finish, 2nd of 7, 2 1/4l behind Tamarinbleu (11-12) at Haydock 2m 5f hcp chs 0-145 (2) hvy in Dec.
Romanesco (FR) 28-1 (9-13) Mistake 1st, soon in rear, jumped right and behind 7th, jumped right next, pulled up before 9th, in a race won by Quincy Des Pictons (9-7) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs (2) hvy in Dec, 14 ran.
Autumm Spirit 8-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders, went prominent after 4th, led 10th, mistake 2 out, headed approaching last, stayed on, 2nd of 7, 2 1/4l behind Stormhoek (10-7) at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs.
Francis Du Mesnil (FR) 8-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, 4th 4 out, ridden and no impression in 5th before last, kept on one pace, 6th of 11, 9l behind I Hear A Symphony (11-9) at Down Royal 2m hcp chs sft in Nov.
Hunt Ball (IRE) 9-4fav (11-5) Held up towards rear, slightly hampered 6th, headway after 8th, went 3rd 10th, challenged 2 out, soon led, outjumped and headed last, held after, stayed on, 2nd of 10, 3/4l behind Time To Think (11-2) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) hvy.
Babe Heffron (IRE) 66-1 (11-8) Prominent, jumped left 2nd, hit 6th and lost place, behind 10th, jumped left 11th, pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Niceonefrankie (10-10) at Hereford 2m 5f hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft, 9 ran.
Johnny Mullen (IRE) 5-2fav (9-9) Towards rear, headway 8th to chase leaders, soon ridden, kept on same pace, 3rd of 6, 8l behind Falcon Island (11-9) at Wincanton 2m hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Dec.
Not So Sure Dick (IRE) 11-1 (11-5) In touch, dropped towards rear after 5th, headway and in touch on outside 8th, ridden to chase leader 5 out, outpaced when hit and lost place 3 out, stayed on under pressure to regain narrow 2nd last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 8, 5l behind Ballyoliver (11-2) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Dec.
