Good

3:30 South-West Racing Club Novices' Chase (class 3) (5yo+)

[off 3:31] £7,807.20, £2,292.00, £1,146.00, £572.40 15 fences (2m3f110y) 2m3½f

Comments In Running OR TS RPR

1 Racing Demon (IRE) Miss H C Knight 6 11-12 T J Murphy 2/7F — —

2 15 Cornish Sett (IRE) P F Nicholls 7 11-8 b Christian Williams 4/1 140 — —

3 19 Back Nine (IRE) R H Alner 9 11-2 A Thornton 20/1 120 — —

4 9 Mythical King (IRE) R Lee 9 11-2 T Doyle 40/1 — —

5 7 Master Billyboy (IRE) Mrs S D Williams 8 11-2 W Hutchinson 100/1 102 — —

6 dist Lesdream J D Frost 9 11-2 James Davies 80/1 — —

UR La Source A Gold (IRE) Nick Williams 7 11-2 P Hide 150/1 — —

F Only Wallis (IRE) C L Tizzard 9 11-2 J Tizzard 100/1 — —

PU River Of Wishes C W Mitchell 8 10-9 S Curran 250/1 — —

UR Powra R J Hodges 6 10-9 James White(7) 250/1 — —

10 ran TIME 5m 0.00s (slow by 23.00s) TOTAL SP 109%

NON RUNNER: Madam Flora

1st OWNER: Mrs T P Radford BRED: Con O'Keeffe TRAINER: Miss H C Knight

2nd OWNER: Peter Hart

3rd OWNER: Old Moss Farm

TOTE WIN £1.30 PL £1.02, £1.40, £1.50; Ex £1.90; CSF £1.52

ANALYSIS: A novice chase that featured the long awaited return to action of the much vaunted RACING DEMON who had to win this convincingly to remain a leading fancy for the Arkle Chase at Cheltenham next month and win he did despite being in front from a long way out. Afterwards his trainer stated to have him up there had been the plan as it would have educated him and, apart from jumping to the right four out , he did little wrong and deserves his place at the head of the Arkle market. Judged on this performance he will be better suited by racing the other way round at Cheltenham and seems certain to put up a bold show.

Cornish Sett is no mug when in the mood but he was put in his place by the winner but there are other races to be won with him as he will not always bump into one as good.

Back Nine at least got round this time having fallen on his previous outing and he is probably going to be seen to better effect in handicap company in due course.

Good To Soft

12:45 December Novices' Chase (Class B) (class 2) (5yo+)

[off 12:45] £10,099.08, £2,983.13, £1,491.56, £746.59, £372.49 21 fences (3m1f110y) 3m1½f

Comments In Running OR TS RPR

1 Darkness C R Egerton 6 11-8 A P McCoy 13/8F 149 121 156+

2 8 Zabenz (NZ) P J Hobbs 8 11-5 b R Johnson 11/4 111 143+

3 18 Billyvoddan (IRE) H D Daly 6 11-8 R Thornton 7/2 100 127+

4 ¾ Back Nine (IRE) R H Alner 8 11-0 A Thornton 5/1 120 91 117+

5 dist Goblet Of Fire (USA) P F Nicholls 6 11-8 b Christian Williams 20/1 — 100

5 ran TIME 6m 32.40s (slow by 13.40s) TOTAL SP 108%

1st OWNER: Lady Lloyd-Webber BRED: Heatherwold Stud TRAINER: C R Egerton

2nd OWNER: Michael H Watt

3rd OWNER: Trevor Hemmings

TOTE WIN £2.20 PL £1.30, £1.80; Ex £6.30; CSF £6.41

ANALYSIS: Another strong pace despite the small field and a taking performance from DARKNESS, who showed there was no fluke about his Grade 2 defeat of Iris's Gift at Newbury last time. It is easy to pick holes in the bare form of defeating the front-running Zabenz, with Billyvoddan labouring home in third on the tacky ground, but Darkness toyed with rivals rated his better or equal over hurdles until given the office between the last two. Although he had to be driven out, it was a comprehensive win, all the better for making light of a bad mistake four out.

He could not live with Monet's Garden over two miles in his only chasing defeat but he looks a strong contender for the Royal & Sun Alliance Chase, for which he is now close behind his conqueror in ante-post betting, being cut to a general 10-1, although VCbet go 12-1, which looks a big price for a horse who has performed like this around the track, with connections feeling the race was plenty quick enough after Newbury.

Billyvoddan was not helped by a mistake at the third-last but he was flat out at the time and could not recover, only just holding Back Nine for third, suggesting the trip stretched him.

Back Nine had been pulled up when last seen here but had also finished in front of Zabenz on worse terms last time, so this was again a disappointing effort.

Good

2:15 Greatwood Rescue And Rehabilitation Beginners' Chase (Class E) (class 4) (4yo+)

[off 2:18] £4,290.00, £1,320.00, £660.00, £330.00 14 fences (2m4f110y) 2m4½f

Comments In Running OR TS RPR

1 Copsale Lad N J Henderson 8 11-7 M Foley 100/30 127 133 141+

2 13 Back Nine (IRE) R H Alner 8 11-7 A Thornton 9/1 120 129+

3 3½ Zabenz (NZ) P J Hobbs 8 11-7 R Johnson 13/2 117 127+

4 3 Alderburn H D Daly 6 11-7 M Bradburne 10/1 114 122+

5 12 Bob Bob Bobbin C L Tizzard 6 11-7 J Tizzard 11/4F 102 113+

6 13 Monte Vista (IRE) Jonjo O´Neill 8 11-7 T J Murphy 6/1 89 103+

7 dist Unusual Suspect G L Moore 6 11-7 J E Moore 50/1 — —

8 9 Serious Man (IRE) Mrs P Townsley 7 11-4 C Bolger(3) 100/1 — —

9 ½ Wayward Melody G L Moore 5 11-0 P Hide 66/1 — —

UR Irish Raptor (IRE) N A Twiston-Davies 6 11-7 Antony Evans 20/1 — —

F Salt Cellar (IRE) P R Webber 6 11-7 T Doyle 66/1 — —

PU Quid Pro Quo (FR) P F Nicholls 6 11-7 Christian Williams 12/1 — —

PU Rosses Point (IRE) Evan Williams 6 11-7 P Moloney 100/1 — —

13 ran TIME 5m 4.00s (fast by 1.00s) TOTAL SP 115%

NON RUNNER: Olney Lad

1st OWNER: Swallow Partnership BRED: G G A Gregson TRAINER: N J Henderson

2nd OWNER: Old Moss Farm

3rd OWNER: Michael H Watt

TOTE WIN £4.00 PL £1.70, £2.60, £2.10; Ex £47.60; CSF £30.95

Course record.

ANALYSIS: This looked a competitive event beforehand, but it was dominated through the final half-mile by COPSALE LAD, who made a sparkling reappearance and, on this evidence, is sure to go on to better things.

He jumped superbly and, if he stays three miles, as his trainer Nicky Henderson will try to find out soon, he can develop into a major player, although good ground is imperative. "He was just unlucky over fences last season, but he had clearly learned from the experience and put that to good use," said the trainer.

Back Nine was another to make a very pleasing reappearance, although he was well held by the winner over the last three fences. He had decent hurdles form last term and is clearly going the right way from a yard that does well in this sphere.

Zabenz, who somehow qualified for this despite having won over fences in the US, was up with the pace from the start but, like the rest, was left behind by the winner in the final half-mile. Nevertheless, he jumped soundly and will progress from this.

Alderburn looked the threat to the winner, if there was one, coming down the hill, but was a spent force over the last two. This was a decent first effort of the campaign and, as his stable seems slowly to be running into form, he isone to keep an eye on.

Bob Bob Bobbin was probably a bit disappointing, although again you have to make allowances for this being his first run of the season. He is always prepared to try to force the pace, but gradually dropped away once the winner had headed him at around halfway and was beaten a fair distance. He was a smart novice hurdler last season and is another who is entitled to come on for this first run over fences.