chased leaders, went 2nd 5 out, led 4 out, headed approaching 3 out, soon weakened
tracked leader, led 9th, headed approaching 4 out, quickly weakened and pulled up before next
held up, headway 5 out, every chance approaching 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, weakened flat
chased leaders, blundered 5th, ridden approaching 4 out, took 2nd flat, no impression
held up, headway approaching 7th, led approaching 3 out, clear approaching last, driven out
led to 9th, hit next, soon weakened, pulled up before 3 out
Scribano Eile gets the confident vote here with Le Roi Rouge and Just For Men rating the main dangers. The selection was pulled up early at Kempton last time out for continually jumping left but prior to that he had looked progressive. This left handed track looks sure to play to his strengths and off what looks a fair mark he will be hard to beat. Le Roi Rouge rates the main danger on his latest fourth behind Own Line but that form has since been let down and the drop in trip is also a concern so he looks worth taking on. Just For Men won well last time out when beating Kirkside Pleasure with a little in hand. Granted he has a penalty for that win in a more competitive race but he has definite place claims. Livingonaknifedge is another that could go well if his jumping holds up but that is a big if and at likely odds he is opposed. Of the remainder Junctiontwentyfour is sure to make a bold bid to make all but he looks vulnerable to something with a finishing kick and with this in mind for the winner we return to the unexposed Scribano Eile.
Livingonaknifedge (IRE) 7-1 (11-6) Pulled hard early, held up in touch, bad mistake 13th, soon weakened and pulled up 4 out in race won by Sir Bathwick (10-13) at Newbury 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs, 8 ran.
Scribano Eile (IRE) 7-1 (10-7) Wanted to go left throughout, soon towards rear, went badly left and pulled up at the 11th in race won by Yardbird (10-13) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-140 (2) gs, 14 ran.
Le Roi Rouge (FR) 11-2 (11-12) Held up, headway 11th, going well when blundered 4 out, soon lost place, stayed on from 2 out, no impression, 4th of 7, 8l behind Own Line (11-10) at Wetherby 2m 6f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Nov.
BallaBriggs (IRE) 11-2 (11-0) Held up, in 6th when slipped up at the 7th in race won by Pasagai (10-11) at Bangor 2m 4f nov chs (4) gd, 11 ran.
Just For Men (IRE) 6-1 (11-2) Mid-division, headway 3 out, led approaching last, stayed on well, won at Hexham 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Nov beating Kirkside Pleasure (11-8) by 3l, 9 ran.
Junctiontwentyfour 13-2 (9-13) Led, ridden and headed after 3 out, kept on, 2nd of 13, 7l behind Which Pocket (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m 5f cnd hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd.
