slowly away, in rear, blundered 13th, hampered 16th, headway 4 out, soon ridden, beaten, no impression after 3 out
in touch, not fluent 11th, challenged 2 out, still every chance flat, no extra final 100 yards
held up towards rear, steady headway from 10th, hit 4 out, challenged 2 out, soon ridden, led final 100 yards, driven out, gamely
took keen hold, held up towards rear, blundered 9th, reminders after 12th, pulled up before 13th, dismounted
held up in rear, not fluent 9th, mistake, hampered 16th, headway 18th, ridden after 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out
held up towards rear, not fluent 7th, headway 14th, reminders 4 out, weakened after 3 out
held up in rear, not fluent 4th (water), mistakes 9th and 13th, struggling after 18th, well beaten 3 out
mid-division on outside, hit 3rd, headway 6th, mistake 14th (water), lost place 18th, well beaten 3 out
led, hit, headed 3 out, soon ridden, weakened from 2 out
in touch, jumped right 12th, went 2nd after 16th, led 3 out, hard pressed 2 out, headed final 100 yards, no extra
with leader to 3rd, remained handy, close 2nd when fell 16th
prominent, chased leader 3rd to 6th, lost place 9th, well behind 14th, tailed off when pulled up before 18th
Nonrunner
Many will be prepared to give Character Building another chance but he could be conquered by ALEXANDERTHEGREAT. Merigo and Rambling Minster are amongst several others that could feature. Character Building was well backed to win a handicap here last time and understandably so but he raced a little keenly and didn't see out the race as well as one would have hoped. That was still a fair enough performance, this looks easier and he could well make amends. Merigo should be capable of further success from his revised mark and it's interesting that his connections are coming south with him. Rambling Minster is capable of having a say whilst Nor Nor East is of interest with the yard in better form of late. L'Aventure is on a decent mark and ran well last time, Openide has posted several decent runs at the track and Noir Et Vert is better than he showed last time. One with less to prove than most is the selection as he has run two solid races at this track this season and appears to be a progressive sort. He ran well over a similar trip in October before finding a drop back in trip against him last time but there was plenty to like about the way that he stayed on and the step back up in trip can see Alexanderthegreat triumph.
King Harald (IRE) 12-1 (11-7) Led to 11th, ridden 14th, weakened 4 out, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Hoopy (10-12) at Cheltenham 3m amt hcp chs 0-140 (2) sft in Nov, 17 ran.
Character Building (IRE) 7-2fav (10-9) Took keen hold, held up, headway 9th, jumped right 16th, ridden after 4 out, went 3rd after 3 out, weakened approaching last, 4th of 15, 21l behind Mon Mome (10-8) at Cheltenham 3m 1f lst hcp chs (1) gs in Dec.
Rambling Minster 6-1 (11-3) Towards rear, hit 19th, headway to chase leaders 4 out, driven and one pace from next, 5th of 16, 4 1/2l behind Kilbeggan Blade (11-7) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Dec.
Nor'nor'east (IRE) 22-1 (11-7) Held up and mistake, chased leaders after 5 out, blundered next, soon weakened, eased from 2 out, 13th of 16, well behind Possol (11-4) at Haydock 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Nov.
Openide 40-1 (10-8) Pressed leader to 6th, weakened 8th, well in rear 4 out, tailed off when pulled up at the last in race won by Ballydub (10-10) at Newbury 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gs in Nov, 17 ran.
Noir Et Vert (FR) 7-1jt-fav (10-11) Held up towards rear, no chance before 4 out, tailed off, 10th of 17, well behind Parsons Legacy (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m hcp chs (2) gd in Oct.
Strong Coffee 14-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, went 2nd 15th, ridden and lost 2nd soon after 3 out, soon weakened, 4th of 8, 31l behind Can't Buy Time (11-1) at Ascot 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Nov.
Rimsky (IRE) 4-1 (11-2) Led, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, driven, edged right and no extra from last, 3rd of 6, 4 1/2l behind Faasel (11-2) at Carlisle 2m 5f chs (2) hvy in Nov.
Merigo (FR) 7-1 (10-4) Chased leaders, hit 6th, led 9th, headed approaching 3 out, regained lead approaching last, kept on well, won at Doncaster 3m hcp chs 0-150 (2) sft in Dec beating Standin Obligation (11-3) by 4l, 9 ran.
Gaora Lane (IRE) 7-2 (11-8) Led until after 8th, prominent, led 12th until after 19th, soon ridden, weakened after 3 out, 3rd of 6, 18l behind Bowleaze (11-2) at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Nov.
Alexanderthegreat (IRE) 15-2 (11-7) Prominent until blundered badly 11th, soon dropped rear, plenty to do 3 out, stayed on well again from 2 out, went 4th flat, 4th of 16, 8l behind Saunders Road (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f cnd hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Dec.
L'Aventure (FR) 16-1 (10-2) Chased leaders, hit 14th, went 2nd 15th to 4 out, stayed prominent, hit 3 out, rallied under pressure flat, went 2nd near finish, 2nd of 16, 3/4l behind Kilbeggan Blade (11-7) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Dec.
Gaelic Gift (IRE) 22-1 (10-1) In touch, led 4 out, ridden after 3 out, stayed on well under pressure from last, drew clear flat, won at Cheltenham 3m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Apr beating Petite Margot (11-7) by 6l, 19 ran.
Le Burf (FR) 14-1 (11-11) In touch, ridden 4 out, soon weakened, 5th of 14, 32l behind Victorias Groom (11-10) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Dec.
