held up, hampered 1st, not fluent 6th, headway 3 out, weakened 3 out
chased leaders, jumped right 1st, went 2nd after 13th, well held by winner from 4 out
tracked leaders, mistake 1st , lost place after 5th, mistake next, struggling when hit 10th and 12th, tailed off
tracked winner, jumped right, hampered 1st, reminder and lost 2nd after 13th, mistake and weakened 4 out, tailed off
in rear, mistake 6th, behind 10th, went badly left next, tailed off
made all, jumped right 1st, clear 4 out, easily
LOVCEN has the potential to go to the top over fences and it's about time he was showing it. A very good fourth in the Albert Bartlett at the Cheltenham Festival, he then beat Fingal Bay in the Grade 1 Sefton Novices' Hurdle at Aintree. He's shown little in his three runs this season, including behind Dynaste in the Feltham at Kempton on his chasing debut, but there should be much more to come. Minella Class defied mistakes to score at Ascot in November but couldn't get away with it at Lingfield where he fell heavily. Same Difference has been placed at Grade 2 level over timber but hasn't quite hit the heights over fences unlike Wiesentraum, who defied a long absence and a huge SP to make a winning start over fences at Doncaster.
Minella Class (IRE) 5-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, under pressure 4 out, soon weakened, modest 3rd when fell 3 out, in a race won by Court In Motion (11-1) at Lingfield 3m nov chs Grade 2 (1) hvy in Dec, 4 ran.
Wiesentraum (GER) 40-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, headway before 3 out, not fluent last, kept on to lead close home, won at Doncaster 2m 3f beg chs (3) gs in Dec beating Vintage Star (11-2) by nk, 12 ran.
Isaac's Warrior (IRE) 9-2 (12-0) Chsd ldrs in 3rd until disp from 5out, ld bef 3out & 8l clr bef 2out, kow, won at Ballybunion 3m ire ptp gd in May beating Joe The Trucker (12-0) by 10l, 11 ran.
Lovcen (GER) 10-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, ridden and outpaced before 4 out, weakened before next, 6th of 7, 37l behind Dynaste (11-7) at Kempton 3m nov chs Grade 1 (4yo+) (1) hvy in Dec.
Our Golden Boy (IRE) 33-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, weakened before 3 out, 11th of 12, well behind Dancing Daffodil (10-3) at Towcester 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Dec.
Same Difference (IRE) 7-2 (11-4) Tracked leaders, ridden before 5 out, one pace from 3 out, no impression, 4th of 6, 8l behind Red Rocco (11-2) at Newcastle 3m Novice Handicap Chase (0-135) (4yo+) (3) hvy in Dec.
