behind until 2nd, went 4th 7th, chased leader 3 out, 1 1/2 lengths down when left in lead 4 out, clear 2 out, easily
took keen hold, led 1st until after 5th, hit 5 out, weakening when hampered and unseated rider 4 out
led until 1st, prominent, led after 5th, headed after 7th, left 2nd 4 out, no impression on winner 2 out, one pace
prominent, led after 7th, 1 1/2 lengths ahead when fell 4 out
held up, jumped slowly 2nd, mistake next and numerous errors after, behind 5th, left remote 3rd 2 out
held up, in touch 2nd, mistake next, ridden after 4th, lost touch after 7th, tailed off
tracked leaders, not fluent 7th, outpaced before 5 out, left 3rd when slightly hampered 4 out, 9 lengths behind winner when fell 2 out
This won't take much winning and there seems no reason why Huntingdon winner Star Galaxy won't go close, despite his welter burden. Hazeldene still looks to have too much weight, however, and Chilbury Hill is an infrequent winner and has been well beaten lately. Ours isn't firing but ZEN FACTOR should improve for his fourth at Folkestone and had some decent form over hurdles a couple of years ago. He gets a tentative vote.
Star Galaxy (IRE) 9-2 (11-5) Held up, took keen hold, headway 5th, went 2nd 4 out, led after 3 out, clear before last, ridden out, won at Huntingdon 2m hcp chs 0-100 (5) sft beating Unwanted Gift (11-11) by 5l, 7 ran.
Hazeldene 5-1 (11-9) Tracked leader, led 7th, headed approaching 3 out, weakening when left in moderate 4th 2 out, 4th of 6, 47l behind Sawago (10-13) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Dec.
Ours (FR) 14-1 (11-3) Last pair, ridden and struggling 8th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Rosoff (9-9) at Lingfield 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy, 7 ran.
Zen Factor 16-1 (11-11) Mostly tracked winner, jumped left and not fluent 1st, not fluent next, ridden after 3 out, 4th before 2 out, weakened approaching last, 4th of 9, 19l behind Free Speech (11-7) at Folkestone 2m nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft in Dec.
Chilbury Hill (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) Last trio, went badly left 7th, went poor 5th before last, 5th of 8, 20l behind Chestnut Ben (11-1) at Hereford 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft in Dec.
All For Eve 25-1 (11-4) Chased leader until 6th, weakened and behind next, tailed off, 7th of 8, well behind Mission Complete (11-9) at Exeter 2m 7f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (5) sft.
Paddy The Yank (IRE) 20-1 (10-7) With leader when left in lead 2nd, headed 7th, chased winner, dropped to 3rd when blundered and weakened 3 out, tailed off, 3rd of 4, well behind Silver Roque (11-0) at Folkestone 2m mdn chs (5) gs.