hampered 2nd, mid-division, headway 9th, driven and weakened 13th, tailed off
tracked leader to 6th, stayed prominent, one pace and no impression on leaders from 4 out
held up in rear, headway into mid-division 11th, soon weakened, pulled up before 14th
held up in rear, ridden 11th, soon struggling, tailed off when pulled up before 13th
behind until fell 2nd
not fluent in rear, mistake 8th, headway from 4 out, blundered 3 out, chased winner, no impression when blundered last 2
prominent, went 2nd 6th, led 11th, made rest, driven clear after 3 out
mid-division, ridden and struggling before 14th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
held up, headway and well in touch 14th, weakened after next, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders in 4th, chased winner 12th until no impression when blundered 2 out
Sha Bihan won on his chasing debut after battling on well, however an 8lb rise for that makes this a lot tougher and so we will side with newcomer Square Mile. The selection showed some decent hurdles form earlier in the year, and with his powerful stable sure to have schooled him well, and assuming that he copes with the softer conditions on offer, he could make a winning start to his chasing career today. Alan King's Sha Bihan rates the main danger but he didn't beat a lot last time out, and will need to have improved, which is certainly possible. Bengo ran a fine race in defeat last time out, but would have preferred better ground so he must be passed over, whilst the same can be said for Robert Alner's Liberty Ben. Windy Hills is an interesting newcomer to the bigger obstacles so should be watched in the market, but he doesn't look the most straight-forward of horses so cannot be truly fancied. in a tricky race then, we return to Square Mile as our idea of the winner.
Sha Bihan (FR) 11-2 (11-3) Prominent, led 4th until next, stayed on strongly flat, led close home, won at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft beating Dun An Doras (10-4) by 3/4l, 9 ran.
Seafield Bogie (IRE) 14-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, ridden to chase leaders 2 out, soon weakened, 6th of 15, 24l behind Fountain Crumble (10-5) at Taunton 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in Dec.
Square Mile (IRE) 11-8fav (11-4) Mostly disputed 2nd, challenged outside and every chance when fell 2 out in race won by Orange Street (10-12) at Newbury 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Mar, 11 ran.
Ferimon 5-1jt-fav (12-5) Led, blundered 6 out, headed next, soon weakened, 6th of 14, well behind Cinnamon Line (11-1) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp chs 0-105 (4) hvy in Dec.
Windy Hills 5-1 (11-10) In touch, challenged 2 out, stayed on under pressure to lead towards finish, won at Kelso 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Nov beating Kempski (10-1) by 1l, 15 ran.
Hashid (IRE) 40-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, jumped left 5th and 6th, quickly lost place, tailed off when pulled up at the 7th in race won by Irish Raptor (10-9) at Newbury 3m nov hcp chs (3) sft in Dec, 7 ran.
Bengo (IRE) 11-2 (10-13) Held up, steady progress from 15th, hit 3 out, tracked leaders next, challenged last, every chance flat, held close home, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Jaunty Times (11-8) at Ascot 3m nov hcp chs (3) gs in Dec.
Lady of Scarvagh (IRE) 25-1 (10-8) Chased leader until fell at the 10th in race won by Nykel (10-13) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Dec, 11 ran.
Liberty Ben (IRE) 3-1 (11-1) In touch, ridden after 12th, weakened approaching 2 out, 6th of 8, 28l behind Hot 'n' Holy (11-12) at Newbury 3m nov hcp chs 0-120 (3) hvy in Nov.
Talikos (FR) 12-1 (10-6) Jumped right throughout and raced wide, took keen hold and held up in rear, mistake 10th, stayed on steadily from 3 out, kept on flat, 4th of 10, 25l behind Opera Mundi (10-11) at Newbury 2m 2f nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Nov.
Nautic (FR) 66-1 (11-0) Keen, in touch, close 4th when fell at the 7th in race won by Broken Reed (11-0) at Leicester 2m 7f nov chs (4) gd in Dec, 8 ran.
