not much room 1st, held up, headway 5th, not fluent and reminder 12th, went 2nd before 14th, led 4 out, not fluent and headed 2 out, led again last, driven flat, held on
bumped 1st and riders rein brielfy tangled up in rival jockeys leg, handy in chasing group, outpaced from 13th, weakened from 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
jumped left, led, bumped rival 1st and briefly had rivals rein tangled up in jockeys leg, clear at various stages, blundered and headed 4 out, soon weakened, refused 2 out
handy in chasing group, not fluent 5th, ridden 13th, mistake 4 out, beaten next, well held 3rd when mistake last
held up, closed on outside 3rd, lost place 6th, headway after 15th, challenged 4 out, led 2 out, headed last, stayed on, just held
Lithic is 0-22 over fences and could have done without a 5lb rise for finishing a close third at Market Rasen on Boxing Day. HIGHLAND HUNTER, a useful stayer over hurdles, was having a first run over the larger obstacles when falling at the last at Chepstow. He would have been placed and can build on that experience here. Thomas Macdonagh was left to come home alone at Catterick last month while Snuff Box has won only one of his 10 chase starts and Innisfree Lad has changed stables since winning twice over fences and hurdles in the first half of the campaign.
Highland Hunter (IRE) 7-2 (10-13) Held up towards rear, not fluent 2nd, closed 5th, outpaced by front pair from 4 out, 7 lengths 3rd when fell last, at Chepstow 3m hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Thomas Macdonagh 13-8 (11-0) Chased leader, joined leader 4th, led 5th, almost joined when left alone 5 out, completed on his own, won at Catterick 3m 1f (4) hvy in Jan.
Lithic (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) Raced keenly in midfield, headway going well approaching 2 out, ridden to challenge before last, ran on well until no extra final 50yds, 3rd of 14, 3/4l behind Who's In The Box (10-7) at Market Rasen 3m 4f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Snuff Box (IRE) 9-2 (11-11) Chased leaders, outpaced when blundered 4 out, rallied from 2 out, plugged on in 4th, 4th of 7, 21l behind Cyclop (11-12) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Innisfree Lad (IRE) 2-1fav (10-6) Prominent, dropped back to midfield 3rd, towards rear 4th, mistake 6th, headway into midfield 11th, ridden 4 out, plugged on from 2 out, 6th of 13, 20 3/4l behind Cobolobo (11-10) at Exeter 3m hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
