led, ridden and headed before 3 out, kept on from 2 out but no chance with winner
held up in mid-division, driven along and dropped to rear approaching 4 out, soon beaten
towards rear of mid-division, ridden and well behind from 3 out, made no telling impression
held up off the pace in rear, driven along and struggling 5 out, went past tiring rivals from 3 out, stayed on into modest fourth after 2 out, never a factor
chased leaders, ridden along before 4 out, plugged on into third before 2 out, no match for first two
prominent, ridden and weakened from 3 out
always towards rear
jumped well, close up, shaken up to lead going best approaching 3 out, went clear approaching final fence, asserted flat, kept on well
Creadan Grae has slipped to a lenient mark but Fairway Freddy was beaten in a three-runner race at Plumpton last month after a win at Stratford two days earlier. Carolines Charm was never travelling over hurdles last month and wouldn’t want any rain but De Barley Basket was going well before unseating his rider at Market Rasen and Butterwick Brook was more like his old self when second to course specialist Wayfinder at Chepstow latest. JONY MAX may still be a few pounds too high but made late headway at Cheltenham last time so is preferred to Don Alvaro and Mister Sweets.
De Barley Basket (IRE) 2-1fav (11-10) Made most until blundered and unseated rider 4 out, at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Sep.
Carolines Charm (IRE) 14-1 (11-10) Mid-division, not jump fluently, dropped away quickly after 3 out and pulled up, at Fontwell 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Fairway Freddy (IRE) 6-5 (11-9) Handy, strongly pressed leader 4 out, upsides 3 out, pushed along and 2 lengths down 2 out, soon ridden, kept on but no impression, 2nd of 3, 3 1/4l behind Pasvolsky (11-4) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Jony Max (IRE) 14-1 (11-3) Held up in rear, not fluent 9th, hampered 4 out, stayed on approaching 2 out, went 4th flat, never on terms, 4th of 20, 16 3/4l behind Jimmy The Digger (11-5) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Butterwick Brook (IRE) 8-1 (10-9) Jumped slowly 1st, led until outjumped and headed 7th, chased winner, ridden and held when jumped slowly 3 out, 2nd of 6, 8l behind Wayfinder (11-7) at Chepstow 3m hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Creadan Grae (IRE) 25-1 (12-2) Led, awkward and pecked 7th, went clear 9th, reduced lead before 4 out, headed next, weakened into 3rd between last 2, 3rd of 7, 10 1/4l behind Forget You Not (10-2) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (4) gf in Oct.
Mister Sweets (IRE) 10-1 (11-12) In rear, slow jumps at times, ridden and beaten 3 out, last of 6, dist behind On Springs (12-0) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Jul.
Don Alvaro 7-2 (10-11) Prominent, jumped right 2nd, pushed along 4 out, dropped to last and weakened before 2 out, last of 4, dist behind Potters Venture (11-0) at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
