led, not fluent and headed 12th, mistake 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off
tracked leaders, jumped slowly 4th, pushed along 7th, reminder after 9th, weakened 13th, pulled up before 4 out
tracked leader, led 12th, headed 4 out, ridden after next, led again approaching last, stayed on to draw clear flat
not always fluent, held up, stumbled 12th, headway 13th, hit 15th, weakened after 3 out, pulled up before next
tracked leaders, not fluent and lost place 10th, jumped slowly 13th, soon struggling, behind before 4 out, soon pulled up
held up, mistake 13th, headway next, not fluent 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out
prominent, lost place 3rd, not fluent next and reminder, not fluent 8th, headway 11th, weakened approaching 2 out
tracked leaders, led 4 out, ridden and headed approaching last, no extra flat
El Padrino is Nick Gifford's only runner at the meeting and has been placed in all three starts so far over fences. He should give a good account back in handicap company but former pointer PINGARO DE LA VIRE bounced back to form over C&D last month and may still be well treated, despite a 5lb higher mark. He gets the nod as Ludlow winner Stormhoek has yet to convince that he stays this far and King Jack generally finds little when push comes to shove. Ayr second Ballyoliver wouldn't be without a chance if he jumps round, however, and Croan Rock ran his best race so far over fences at Kempton last time.
Mud Monkey 50-1 (11-8) Led or disputed lead, ridden after 3 out, lost place before next, soon weakened, 7th of 12, 42l behind Night In Milan (11-5) at Southwell 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Jan.
Charming Lad (IRE) 8-1 (11-7) Chased leader, hit 10th, chasing leaders when blundered 4 out, weakened from next, tailed off, 9th of 13, well behind Gotoyourplay (11-2) at Newbury 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Dec.
Only Witness (IRE) 13-2 (11-2) Mid-division, dropped to rear 11th, outpaced 4 out, never on terms, 5th of 9, 18l behind Moleskin (11-5) at Kempton 3m nov hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in Jan.
Croan Rock (IRE) 7-2fav (11-4) Mid-division, headway 13th, went 2nd after 4 out, ridden 2 out, kept on same pace, no chance with winner, 2nd of 9, 9l behind Moleskin (11-5) at Kempton 3m nov hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in Jan.
Pingaro De La Vire (FR) 9-4fav (11-5) Jumped well, tracked leading pair, headway to join leaders 11th, 3rd from 13th, led 2 out, joined last, pushed along and always just doing enough flat, won at Huntingdon 3m 5yo nov hcp (4) sft in Jan beating Musical Wedge (11-2) by 1 1/2l, 5 ran.
Ballyoliver 7-1 (11-12) Prominent, led 5 out, ridden and pressed from 3 out, headed last, no extra, 2nd of 13, 5l behind Beau Dandy (10-3) at Ayr 3m 1f hcp ch 0-110 (4) sft.
Stormhoek (IRE) 10-3 (10-7) In rear, pushed along 8th, headway 10th, went 2nd 13th, led approaching last, ridden out, won at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs in Jan beating Autumm Spirit (11-6) by 2 1/4l, 7 ran.
King Jack 6-1 (11-12) Jumped slowly 1st, tracked leaders, not fluent 10th, challenged next, 2 1/2 lengths 2nd when left in clear lead and hampered 3 out, idled before next, headed last, not run on, 2nd of 8, 7l behind Folie A Deux (10-11) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gs in Jan.
El Padrino (IRE) 4-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, went 2nd after 8th, led before 10th, over 1 length ahead when pecked 2 out, soon ridden, headed last, weakened flat, 2nd of 8, 6l behind The Black Baron (11-0) at Folkestone 2m 5f mdn chs (5) gs in Jan.
