chased leaders on inside, mistake and lost place 4th, weakened 4 out
held up towards rear, closer in mid-division 4th, weakened 3 out
mostly chased winner after 2nd until approaching 3 out, weakened soon after
hit 1st, made all, clear before 3 out, hit 3 out, dived at next, kept on strongly, unchallenged
held up in mid-division, headway on outside chasing leaders after 4 out, ridden in 4th and no impression next
held up towards rear, never on terms
mid-division, headway chasing leaders before 4 out, weakened before 3 out
chased leader until 2nd, chased leaders, weakened before 4 out, tailed off
held up in last pair, headway chasing leaders before 3 out, 2nd approaching 3 out, hit 2 out, one pace and no impression soon after
chased leaders, 3rd and one pace before 2 out
Dashel Drasher’s maiden form is rock-solid and he’s already been placed over course and distance. He sets an exacting standard but Nicky Henderson has been patient with DICKIE DIVER since he was bought for £210,000 a year ago after winning a maiden point in Ireland by 20 lengths. He could be anything and neither fitness nor stamina will be an issue. Walk In The Mill makes his hurdling debut having won five times over hurdles, including the Grade 3 Becher Chase at Aintree last month. North Star Oscar has decent bumper form and should make a hurdler and that quartet are getting 7lb from previous winners Clondaw Anchor and Lamanver Pippin. Tarada should also have a future over timber.
Lamanver Pippin 7-1 (10-12) Chased leader, led on long run before 2 out, hit 2 out, strongly pressed last, battled on gamely to assert run-in, won at Ffos Las 2m 4f (4) hvy in Dec beating Shaman Du Berlais (10-12) by 2l, 7 ran.
Aclassagold (IRE) 80-1 (10-12) Held up mid-division, weakened from 3 out, 8th of 12, dist behind Envole Toi (10-12) at Taunton 2m (4) gd in Dec.
Captains Run (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Led, ridden and headed before 2 out, soon weakened, 4th of 9, 28l behind Lomachenko (11-0) at Leicester 2m 4f mdn (3) gd in Dec.
Dashel Drasher 15-8fav (11-0) Led until after 1st, chased leader, chance 2 out, ridden and lost 2nd at the last, plugged on in 4th run-in, 4th of 20, 4l behind Rathhill (11-0) at Newbury 2m mdn (4) sft in Dec.
Eceparti (FR) 7-1 (10-12) Prominent, hampered and stumbled 1st, hampered next and 3rd, soon led, headed 5th, ridden and outpaced before 3 out, weakened approaching last, 7th of 11, 17 1/2l behind Oakley (10-12) at Ludlow 2m (4) sft in Dec.
North Star Oscar (IRE) 7-4fav (11-0) Prominent, led 12f out, headed 6f out, led over 3f out, headed well over 2f out, no impression on winner over 1f out, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 10, 9l behind Get In The Queue (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m (5) sft in Dec.
Springcombe Joe 125-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, headway when not fluent 8th, weakened before 3 out, last of 12, dist behind Ask The Weatherman (10-12) at Exeter 2m 7f (4) hvy in Dec.
Storm Wizard (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) Prominent until weakened approaching 3 out, 11th of 16, dist behind Secret Reprieve (10-12) at Chepstow 2m 3f (4) hvy in Dec.
Tarada 6-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, led over 2f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra, 2nd of 11, 1 1/2l behind I K Brunel (11-0) at Carlisle 2m 1f (5) sft in Nov.
Two Sams (IRE) 50-1 (10-12) Keen prominent until hit 6th, soon lost place and pulled up before next, at Bangor 2m 4f (4) sft in Dec.
Walk In The Mill (FR) 10-1 (10-3) Chased leaders, not fluent 11th or 14th, 7th 3 out, closed to take 2nd when not fluent 2 out, led before elbow, soon clear, ridden out, won at Aintree 3m 2f hcp (1) sft in Dec beating Vieux Lion Rouge (10-12) by 4 1/2l, 18 ran.
Clondaw Anchor (IRE) 7-4fav (11-4) Led, pushed along and joined over 2 out, headed 2 out, no impression and weakened into 3rd final 100 yards, 3rd of 18, 5 1/2l behind Champagne Court (10-12) at Lingfield 2m (4) gs in Nov.
Dickie Diver (IRE) 4-1 (11-11) Ld/disp,2nd aftr 5th, ld 4out & gng best when good jump 2out, went 12l clr uphill bef last, kow, easily, won at Templenacarriga 3m mdn hvy in Dec beating Atlantic Shore (11-11) by 20l, 11 ran.
