led, ridden 2 out, pressed approaching last, headed soon after, driven and kept on same pace
in rear, stumbled on landing 5th, fell 7th
held up in rear, headway to go 3rd 3 out, no impression from 2 out
held up in rear, good headway from 6th, challenging leader when slipped on landing and unseated rider 4 out
keen, always prominent, ridden to press leader approaching last, led soon after, driven out
mid-division, headway approaching 4 out, hampered soon after and left 3rd, weakened soon after 2 out
in touch, ridden and weakened after 4 out
tracked leaders, ridden and lost place 8th
tracked leader until 8th, soon ridden and weakened
keen, held up, headway and hampered 4 out, soon left 4th, ridden and weakened 2 out
In the assumed absence of Ponchatrain who unseated when held at Fontwell on Tuesday we'll side with TURBO SHANDY in a race featuring some infrequent winners. Blossom King and Russian Invader are two of the more obvious dangers. The selection can hardly be described as reliable but he has attracted support on occasion and is relatively unexposed over fences. He gained a maiden success at Cartmel in August and that form may not translate to a more conventional track but the race did work out well with the runner-up winning his next two starts. He ran about as well as could have been expected in the face of a stiff task over hurdles last month and this won't take a great deal of winning. Winning hurdler Blossom King is just the type that his yard does well with although they could be in better form which is a definite cause for concern as he makes his chase bow. Russian Invader has had a run on the level to blow away the cobwebs and was in decent form when last seen over fences whilst Mr Newton may be able to show improved form now chasing on his return from a break. Early Wings has ability but has yet to translate that to the track and he remains opposable until getting his head in front as we take a chance with Turbo Shandy.
Blossom King (FR) 7-1 (11-11) Held up in touch, challenged last, led 2f out, driven out, won at Uttoxeter 2m nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Sep beating Classic Fly (11-0) by 3/4l, 16 ran.
Mr Newton (IRE) 16-1 (10-11) Slowly away, mistake 4th, always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Bathwick Man (11-8) at Stratford 2m 3f cond hcp hdl 0-1115 (4) gd in Jul, 14 ran.
Newgate (UAE) 18-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, went 2nd 5th until after next, weakened quickly, tailed off, 6th of 7, well behind Doctor Robert (11-7) at Fakenham 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in Oct.
Turbo Shandy 12-1 (10-7) Mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, hit 2 out, weakeneing when hampered last, 7th of 16, 15l behind Black Apache (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Nov.
Orana Conti (FR) 20-1 (10-9) Tracked leading pair, chased winner 4th, hit 2 out, no chance with winner when sprawled badly on landing and fell last, in a race won by Double Hit (10-12) at Leicester 2m Mares Novice Chase (4yo+) (4) gf in Nov, 5 ran.
Russian Invader (IRE) 9-4fav (10-4) In rear, headway approaching 4 out, chased winner before 3 out, every chance 2 out, soon ridden, beaten approaching last, one pace, 2nd of 6, 7l behind Beherayn (11-11) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in Jul.
She's Humble (IRE) 8-1 (10-13) Chased leaders, raced keenly, weakened 4 out, 6th of 10, 46l behind Midnight Haze (11-4) at Kempton 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Nov.
Early Wings (GER) 4-1 (10-6) Raced keenly, mistake 1st, soon in touch, mistake 7th, soon lost place, no impression, 7th of 9, 22l behind Majy D'auteuil (11-1) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in Sep.
The Arsonist (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Held up, pushed along, weakened approaching 11th, pulled up before next, in a race won by Sir Winston (10-13) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp 0-100 (4) gs in Nov, 12 ran.
Esteem 6-1 (10-9) Held up, not fluent 2nd, hampered 8th, headway 4 out, mistake 3 out, ridden 2 out, soon weakened, 5th of 7, 16l behind Nawow (11-4) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Oct.
PonchaTrain (IRE) 3-1fav (10-13) Mid-division, headway 11th, led approaching 2 out, soon ridden, ran on well, won at Folkestone 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft in Nov beating Lord Appellare (11-9) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
