held up in touch, mistake 7th, headway to 3rd after 10th, went 2nd before 4 out, driven before 2 out, stayed on same pace from last
took keen hold, chased leader until approaching 4th, stayed well there until lost place 11th, struggling after, tailed off
not fluent 1st, held up towards rear, ridden before 8th, headway to 4th 3 out, soon ridden, no impression before next
chased leaders, hit 5th, dropped to rear and ridden 9th, headway to 4th 4 out, no impression when mistake 2 out
held up in rear, well behind when pulled up before 3rd
made all, driven along before 2 out, stayed on well under pressure from last, eased close home
chased leading pair, went 2nd approaching 4th until 6th, went 2nd again approaching 9th until approaching 4 out, stayed on same pace in 3rd from next
raced wide, chased leaders in 5th, went 3rd 5th, chased leader next until approaching 9th, mistake and lost place next, soon behind, poor 7th when pulled up before 2 out
Nonrunner
TAVALU was 5lb out of the handicap when gaining his first success over fences over this trip at Leicester last week. He can run from his correct mark here and with his young rider claiming 5lb he looks ready to score again. Kavegirl was making her chasing debut when third at Wincanton last time but that was over 3m2f and she looks more of a staying type. Catch The Rascal has the ability to win a race of this nature but her jumping has let her down on too many occasions while Whitcombe Spirit will need to put in a much better round of jumping than he did at Lingfield if he's to get involved in this.
Pete The Feat (IRE) 9-1 (10-12) In touch, mistake 10th, soon lost place, behind when pulled up before 13th, in a race won by Mr Chow (11-12) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Dec, 14 ran.
Catch The Rascal (IRE) 10-1 (11-3) Held up in last, jumped big 4th, jumped right 11th, fell next, in a race won by Shernaz (11-12) at Plumpton 3m 2f nov hcp chs 0-100 (5) gs in Nov, 4 ran.
Kavegirl 17-2 (10-6) Tracked leaders, ridden when not fluent 3 out, no impression on front pair next, weakened last, 3rd of 7, 15l behind Good Order (11-10) at Wincanton 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft.
Tavalu (USA) 16-1 (9-7) Chased leader until 4th, remained in 3rd place, went 2nd again 10th until 4 out, ridden in 3rd before next, rallied last, quickened to lead final 150 yards, won going away, won at Leicester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (5) gd beating Morenito (11-1) by 3 1/2l, 7 ran.
Whitcombe Spirit 3-1 (10-1) Not fluent in rear, slow 2nd, mistake 6th, went 4th after 4 out, beaten when blundered 2 out, mistake last, 4th of 6, 14l behind Morestead (11-9) at Lingfield 2m 4f cond hcp hdl 0-105 (4) hvy.
Malin Head (IRE) 100-1 (11-0) Always behind, driven and struggling before 8th, tailed off, last of 13, well behind Hadrian's Approach (11-0) at Ascot 2m 6f NH mdn hdl (3) sft in Dec.
Monsieur Georges (FR) 20-1 (10-8) Tracked leaders on inside, outpaced 3 out, stayed on approaching last, 4th of 9, 6l behind My Faithful Annie (9-13) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-90 (5) sft.
All The Fashion (IRE) 40-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, not fluent 11th, weakened approaching 2 out, 4th of 6, 15l behind Alasi (11-4) at Ludlow 2m 4f mrs nov chs (5yo+) (4) gs.
Catspan (FR) 20-1 (11-6) In touch on inside, mistake 3rd, not fluent and reminder 8th, lost place before next, pulled up approaching 10th, in a race won by Time To Think (11-2) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) hvy, 10 ran.
