held up in rear, headway after 2 out, soon ridden, no impression approaching last
held up on outside, not always fluent, closed 6th, outpaced 2 out, hung left and stayed on flat
led, mistake 2 out, soon headed, rallied before last, edged right and led flat, driven out
held up in touch in mid-division, closed 7th, ridden and every chance after 2 out, 3rd and beaten when faltered after last, one pace
tracked leaders, ridden after 2 out, 4th and beaten when not fluent last, no extra
prominent, mistake 4th, not fluent 3 out, led after 2 out, headed flat, edged left and stayed on, held final 50 yards
prominent until 2 out, soon weakened, tailed off
held up, effort 2 out, outpaced before last, plugged on flat, no impression
Nicky Henderson had four entered in this at the four-day stage but relies of Different Gravey and Birch Hill. The latter appears to have plenty to find but the former looks a danger to all as he was very green when beating Ballagh at Newbury and has plenty of scope for improvement. Zeroshadesofgrey has won all three starts over timber with the minimum of fuss and deserves a crack at this higher level while Robinsfirth looked a nice prospect when making a winning start over hurdles at Exeter. Brother Tedd enjoyed a couple of wide-margin victories at Kempton last month but has more on his plate here, as does Bangor scorer Simply The West. THOMAS BROWN was trying to give the promising Out Sam 8lb when beaten three lengths at Newbury. That was a terrific effort and he can get back to winning ways today.
Brother Tedd 4-6fav (11-5) Held up in rear, headway 3 out, led before 2 out, clear before last, won at Kempton 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Nov beating Hurricane Vic (10-7) by 11l, 6 ran.
Different Gravey (IRE) 5-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, 2nd 2 out, hung left from before last, led and hung left run-in, stayed on, won at Newbury 2m NH mdn hdl (3) sft in Nov beating Ballagh (11-0) by 1 1/2l, 10 ran.
Thomas Brown 15-8 (11-6) Led and set steady pace, narrowly headed 6th, chased leader, challenged and blundered 3 out, recovered to challenge next, ridden between last two, every chance last, chased winner and one pace run-in, 2nd of 4, 3l behind Out Sam (10-12) at Newbury 2m 5f nh nov hdl (3) sft in Nov.
Zeroeshadesofgrey (IRE) 1-4fav (11-10) Tracked leader, led 4 out, jumped left 3 out, soon clear, jumped left last, readily, won at Doncaster 3m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Dec beating Border Breaker (10-12) by 33l, 5 ran.
As De Mee (FR) 11-1 (11-11) Took keen hold, tracked leader, went 2nd travelling well before bypassing 2 out, stayed on from last, led close home, won at Sandown 2m nov hcp hdl 0-120 (4) sft in Dec beating Coup De Grace (11-3) by nk, 9 ran.
Robinsfirth (IRE) 15-2 (10-12) Tracked leaders, challenged 3 out, led after 2 out, driven flat, stayed on well, won at Exeter 2m 1f NH nov hdl 4-6yo (4) gs in Dec beating One For The Guv'nr (10-12) by 1 1/4l, 18 ran.
Simply The West (IRE) 11-8fav (10-12) Prominent, led 2 out, clear last, comfortable, won at Bangor 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Nov beating Winter Walk (10-12) by 13l, 5 ran.
Birch Hill (IRE) 6-4fav (10-12) Chasing leaders when blundered and lost place slightly 2nd, rallied chasing leaders again when mistake 5th, weakened after 3 out, pulled up before next, in a race won by Aqalim (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Dec, 15 ran.
