held up, behind, in touch, headway 9th, went 2nd next, ridden 2 out, kept on same pace, no chance with winner flat
made virtually all, driven 2 out, clear last, ridden out flat
tracked winner, blundered 5th, outpaced before 3 out, weakened next
tracked leaders, jumped slow and lost place 8th (water), reminder 10th, ridden after next, tailed off 4 out
tracked leaders, 4th and driven when fell 4 out
tracked leaders, hampered 5th, outpaced when left 4th 4 out, ridden next, stayed on to take modest 3rd 2 out, no chance with front pair
Golanova and Trickaway appear in the grip of the assessor at present whilst Trojan Sun may well need the run and Chance Encounter looks to have plenty to find on form to date despite receiving plenty of weight all round. So let's focus on the two recent winners, of which Allerton took advantage of a falling mark to oblige at Uttoxeter in early October despite giving the impression he was not entirely in love with things. He's up 5lb for a half-length success and preference is for MIDNIGHT CHARMER. He's certainly the more consistent of the pair and one who wins more often. Always in control when scoring smoothly at Fakenham the last day, he is taken to handle an 8lb rise for that victory and continue his upward trajectory under the increasingly impressive James Banks.
Golanova 14-1 (10-9) In rear, headway 8th, weakened before 4 out, 6th of 8, 21l behind Whispering Harry (10-5) at Chepstow 2m nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft.
Trickaway (IRE) 5-1 (11-1) Not fluent 1st, soon prominent, led narrowly 6th to 9th, tracked leader, lost place when blundered and unseated rider 12th, in a race won by The Ould Lad (11-2) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs, 7 ran.
Trojan Sun 25-1 (11-9) Held up mid-division, weakened from 6 out, 4th of 8, well behind Water Wagtail (10-9) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Apr.
Allerton (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, mistake 12th, led before 3 out, 4 lengths clear last, ridden out, won at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp 0-100 (5) gd in Oct beating Typical Oscar (10-8) by 1/2l, 5 ran.
Midnight Charmer 9-4fav (11-1) Held up, headway 6th, led 2 out, ridden and ran on, won at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp 0-100 (5) gd in Oct beating Alright Benny (10-8) by 7l, 8 ran.
Chance Encounter (IRE) 3-1 (11-4) Midfield, headway when jumped left 4 out, challenging when jumped left 2 out, kept on same pace after last, 3rd of 9, 2 1/4l behind Captain Knock (10-11) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp 0-100 (5) fm in Oct.
