held up early, headway to track leaders 4th, left 2nd next, closing when blundered 2 out, not recover
chased winner until mistake 3rd, chased leaders, left 3rd 5th, dropped to 4th next, outpaced in last pair 8th, left poor 3rd at the last
held up in in rear when blundered badly 5th and pulled up
raced wide, held up, blundered 3rd, struggling 6th, mistake and weakened 8th, tailed off
made all, mistake 4 out, left in command 2 out, driven clear before last
held up in rear, steady headway 8th, went 3rd before next, no chance with leading duo when blundered last and eventually unseated rider
chased leaders, went 2nd 3rd, mistake and unseated rider 5th
chased leaders, pushed along after 5th, well outpaced 8th, left poor 4th and slightly hampered at the last
CAROBELLO only beat three rivals here four weeks ago but jumped well in the hands of Nico De Boinville, who takes off 5lb again here. Obviously, this is a bit more competitive but Martin Bosley's charge is still at the right end of the handicap and should be capable of further improvement. Hopeand won at Southwell last month before finishing second over a longer trip at Market Rasen. She isn't without a chance but Ninfea's jumping remains a problem and Rocky Elson has stopped quickly in both starts over fences, though was taking on better opposition last time. The unexposed Looks Like Slim is probably best of the rest.
Looks Like Slim 14-1 (11-7) Held up, closed 2nd, ridden and every chance 2 out, no extra and lost 2 places flat, 4th of 7, 5l behind Arkaim (11-5) at Huntingdon 2m nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Nov.
Shannon Spirit (IRE) 25-1 (11-5) Led, mistake 1st, reminder and headed before 5th, dropped out quickly before 6th and pulled up after hurdle, in a race won by Seebright (11-12) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Nov, 8 ran.
Rocky Elsom (USA) 50-1 (10-0) Mid-division, hampered 1st, headway 6th, 5th when blundered 4 out, soon weakened, 8th of 11, 22l behind Oyster Shell (10-13) at Ludlow 2m nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Nov.
Bathcounty (IRE) 14-1 (11-6) Mid-division, headway after 7th, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off, 6th of 10, 41l behind My Oh Mount Brown (11-6) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Nov.
Hopeand 7-1 (11-12) Led and soon clear, reduced lead 5th, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, driven and rallied next, plugged on flat, 2nd of 6, 11l behind Molko Jack (10-6) at Market Rasen 2m 4f hcp 0-100 (5) sft in Nov.
Ninfea (IRE) 20-1 (11-9) Held up in rear, ridden 7th, headway approaching 3 out, weakened next, 4th of 12, 29l behind Mini Muck (11-12) at Leicester 2m 4f (4) gs.
Carobello (IRE) 3-1 (11-3) Made all, driven clear after 2 out, stayed on approaching last, ridden out flat, won at Fakenham 2m cnd hcp chs (0-95) (5) gs in Nov beating Full Ov Beans (11-9) by 3l, 4 ran.
Radsoc De Sivola (FR) 16-1 (9-9) Led, clear 6th until 8th, pushed along after 4 out, ridden and headed 3 out, lost 2nd before 2 out, weakened and lost modest 3rd in closing stages, 4th of 5, 12l behind Molko Jack (10-6) at Southwell 2m hcp chs 0-100 (5) gs in Oct.
