in touch, headway 15th, led approaching 16th, fell 17th
mid-division, headway 15th, ridden and blundered 16th, close 4th when fell 17th
led to 2nd, left in lead 17th, jumped left 3 out and 2 out, driven out
prominent, mistake 3rd, lost touch 11th, tailed off 13th, pulled up before 14th
mid-division, lost place 7th, pulled up before 9th
always towards rear, hit 2nd, ridden and pecked 14th, left third 17th, jumped badly left 3 out, soon pulled up
mid-division, ridden and lost place 13th, soon no chance, behind when hampered 17th
held up, ridden and left close 5th 17th, good headway 4 out, went 2nd approaching 3 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace
prominent, hit 10th, jumped right 11th, ridden 16th, badly hampered and pulled up 17th
in touch, jumped left 7th, blundered badly and unseated rider 8th
in touch, tailed off and hampered 17th, no chance after
chased leader, led 2nd to 16th, hampered and left 2nd 17th, soon ridden, one pace
Nonrunner
Noble Action is selected ahead of Nykel and Fine By Me, while Waltzing Beau caught the eye on his reappearance and will be a big threat if he does not suffer from the bounce factor. The last named returned from a year's absence to finish a game second at Towcester - a track his has gone well at in the past. Quite whether this course will play to his strengths is open to debate, but Venetia Williams seems to have him in good order, so a big run cannot be ruled out. Fine By Me stays well and, having finished second here earlier in the month, he too is respected. The ground should suit him and he rates as a fair value option. Nykel was a costly failure last time out, so may not be the most attractive betting proposition at the likely odds. However, the first time blinkers may drag the best out of him and it would be dangerous to leave him off the list. However, Noble Action, who is yet to finish out of the money in seven previous starts, has the right attitude to make this a good fight to the line. And with his form standing up to scrutiny, this looks to be Noble Action's race for the taking.
Berengario (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) In touch, effort 8th, behind from 11th, tailed off 3 out, 8th of 11, 49l behind Cossack Dancer (11-9) at Folkestone 2m 5f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Nov.
Waltzing Beau 10-3 (11-12) Held up, in rear, in touch, mistake 9th, headway 13th, kept on well after last, just denied, 2nd of 5, nk behind Molostiep (10-2) at Towcester 2m 6f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs.
Nykel (FR) 15-8fav (10-8) Chased leader, ridden 17th, led approaching 3 out, soon headed, kept on one pace, 2nd of 6, 1 1/2l behind Geeveem (11-2) at Wincanton 3m 3f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Nov.
Red Echo (FR) 16-1 (11-7) Led, ridden and haeded 4 out, weakened 3 out, 5th of 14, 8l behind Finzi (9-12) at Fontwell 3m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Nov.
Even More (IRE) 20-1 (11-10) Chased winner, ridden 17th, 3rd and held when blundered 3 out, 3rd of 9, 24l behind Trust Fund (11-12) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft.
Noble Action 11-4fav (10-11) Held up, headway 9th, ridden 3 out, one pace from 2 out, 2nd of 10, 12l behind Leading Authority (11-7) at Lingfield 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) hvy.
Wizard of Edge 16-1 (11-7) Mid-division, ridden and headway to chase leader 17th, kept on one pace from 4 out, 4th of 9, 40l behind Trust Fund (11-12) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft.
Fine By Me (IRE) 3-1 (10-12) Held up last, blundered 16th, ridden and went 2nd 4 out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 9, 18l behind Trust Fund (11-12) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft.
Alcatras (IRE) 20-1 (10-7) Led, mistake 1st, headed next, prominent, led 13th, ridden after 4 out, in command when mistake last, ridden out, won at Exeter 3m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gf in Oct beating No Way Back (11-12) by 6l, 11 ran.
Blaze Ahead (IRE) 11-2 (11-5) Led until 3rd, led again 13th, ridden and headed when blundered 4 out, weakened, 3rd of 13, 27l behind River Indus (10-6) at Exeter 2m 7f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft.
River Indus 8-1 (10-6) Tracked leaders, not fluent 11th, led 4 out, stayed on strongly, won at Exeter 2m 7f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft beating Deep Quest (10-11) by 5l, 13 ran.
Treasulier (IRE) 11-1 (11-3) Prominent, led 11th until 14th, soon ridden, one pace from 4 out, 5th of 15, 16l behind Maximinus (10-0) at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd.
Dream Falcon 8-1 (10-8) Prominent, ridden after 4 out, kept on same pace from 3 out, 2nd of 9, 9l behind Beau Michel (11-1) at Taunton 2m 7f beg chs (4) gd.
