tracked leader, led 5th, joined 8th, headed next, chased winner, outpaced 3 out, ridden and rallied towards finish
led, headed 5th, with leader when blundered and lost hind legs on landing 7th, soon pulled up
tracked leading pair, joined leader 8th, led next, clear 3 out, ridden out
held up, headway to chase leading pair 8th, ridden and no impression from 3 out
held up, ridden 8th, weakened 4 out
TROOPER CLARENCE got his act together over fences at Kempton last time and ran out an easy winner. He's 8lb higher in the weights today but improvement should be forthcoming now he's got his head in front. January has placed form that gives him a chance but he appears to have lost his way of late, and Catholic Hill looks a bigger threat on the evidence of his recent improved efforts at Hereford and Taunton. Salybia Bay has a bit to find and Medicine Man was pulled-up on his recent chasing debut.
Trooper Clarence 11-4fav (10-6) Prominent, settled in 3rd from 2nd, closed 7th, challenging when left in lead 4 out, drew clear from 2 out, eased towards finish, won at Kempton 2m nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd beating Playing With Fire (11-1) by 13l, 5 ran.
Medicine Man (IRE) 9-1 (11-6) Keen tracked leader, blundered badly 4th, pulled up before next, in a race won by Autumm Spirit (10-0) at Leicester 2m nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf, 9 ran.
January 7-1 (11-8) Held up in 5th, not fluent 4th, mistake 4 out, soon weakened, eased after 3 out, soon pulled up, in a race won by Roudoudou Ville (11-9) at Wincanton 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf, 6 ran.
Salybia Bay 28-1 (10-4) In touch, ridden 7th, weakened 3 out, 6th of 9, 43l behind Autumm Spirit (10-0) at Leicester 2m nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf.
Catholic Hill (USA) 9-4fav (9-12) Chased leader until mistake 2nd, stayed in close 3rd, hit 7th, soon ridden, blundered 4 out, ridden and one pace when left 3rd and hampered 3 out, rallied well flat, went 3rd last strides, 3rd of 8, 9l behind Laneguy (11-0) at Taunton 2m 5yo nov hcp (4) gs.
