mid-division, brought down 2nd
towards rear, hampered by faller 2nd, never on terms after, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, hampered by faller 2nd, headway chasing leaders from 4 out, ridden after next, hit 2 out, went 2nd and every chance last, sustained challenge run-in, just failed
towards rear, hampered by faller 2nd, bad mistake 5th, pulled up before 4 out
chased leaders, pushed along and weakened before 3 out, tailed off and pulled up before next
never closer than mid-division, pushed along and struggling home turn, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders, tracked leader 2nd until before 6th, weakened quickly tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
mid-division on inside, pushed along before 4 out, weakened before next, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
mid-division out wide, pushed along and lost place going out on last circuit, tailed off 4 out, pulled up before next
waited with towards rear, smooth headway approaching 4 out, went 2nd 2 out, led approaching and hit last, sustained battle with 2nd run-in, kept on gamely
towards rear, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders out wide, ridden and weakened quickly between last two, pulled up before the last
chased leaders out wide, went 2nd before 6th, led 3 out, headed approaching the last, 3rd and no extra run-in
in mid-division when fell 2nd
chased leaders on inside, weakened quickly before 3 out, tailed off and pulled up before next
held up towards rear, headway chasing leaders before 3 out, no extra in 4th between last two
towards rear when badly hampered by faller 2nd, tailed off and pulled up before 5th
mid-division, headway chasing leaders 4 out, weakened after next, pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders, led 2nd, hit 4 out, hit next and headed, chased leader until ridden before 2 out, weakened quickly, mistake 2 out, pulled up before the last
raced on inside, led until 2nd, chased leaders, weakened quickly after 3 out, pulled up before next
A huge field for this normally-informative handicap. It is something of a lottery but jockey bookings would suggest Doncaster winner Rathmacknee is the pick of the two Henderson runners and Harry Cobden keeps faith with the fast-improving novice Outlaw Peter even though stablemate Red Risk came right back to form when beating Petit Tonnerre at Newbury. Quinta Do Mar beat two subsequent winners at Fontwell in November but Whizz Kid was disappointing upped to 2m4f at Aintree. Stag Horn, Fifty Ball and Up For Parol are all making their seasonal reappearance but the latter was a staying-on sixth in this last year behind the re-opposing Cobblers Dream. Scarface makes his handicap debut from near the foot of the handicap and Philip Byrnes takes a handy 5lb off last month Leopardstown winner Green Glory but a tentative vote goes to DUBROVNIK HARRY. Harry Fry’s gelding didn’t take to fences at Exeter but will strip fitter here and was a good third in a Grade 2 over hurdles at Sandown last March when the going was testing. The unexposed West Balboa looks best of the rest even though he’s gone up 3lb for finishing second at Sandown.
Camprond (FR) 13-2 (11-4) Held up last and not jump well, mistake 1st, went 3rd at 2nd, lost 3rd and hit 10th, good jump into 3rd 12th until mistake 3 out, went right and no extra next, went badly left and slowed into last, last of 4, 34l behind Sebastopol (11-9) at Newbury 2m 4f (1) gd in Nov.
Pentland Hills (IRE) 14-1 (11-10) Not fluent and went left 1st, tracked leading pair on inside, fell heavily 4 out, at Ffos Las 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Red Risk (FR) 20-1 (11-12) Never far away racing out wide in mid-division, smooth headway tracking leaders before 3 out, 2nd travelling well 2 out, led before the last, came clear run-in, easily, won at Newbury 2m 5f hcp (2) gd in Nov beating Petit Tonnerre (12-0) by 4 1/4l, 9 ran.
Petit Tonnerre (FR) 14-1 (12-0) Held up in mid-division on inside, steady headway approaching 3 out, ridden between last two, went 2nd and stayed on same pace run-in, no chance with winner, 2nd of 9, 4 1/4l behind Red Risk (11-12) at Newbury 2m 5f hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Cobblers Dream (IRE) 5-2fav (11-10) Jumped right at times, held up in rear, not fluent 5th, closed to chase winner from after 11th, no impression 3 out, 2nd of 6, 13l behind The Cob (10-13) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Quinta Do Mar (IRE) 9-2 (12-1) Tracked leader, smooth headway to lead 2 out, driven along approaching last, just did enough, won at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp (3) gd in Nov beating Irish Hill (11-0) by hd, 8 ran.
Stag Horn 20-1 (11-7) Led after 1st, not fluent 8th, headed 3 out, edged left and bumped before 2 out, weakened before last, 8th of 14, 29 3/4l behind Gelino Bello (11-7) at Aintree 3m 1f (1) gs in Apr.
Harbour Lake (IRE) 16-5 (11-4) Held up in touch, ridden after 2 out, hung left flat, no impression, kept on towards finish, went 4th close home, 4th of 13, 5 1/2l behind Romeo Brown (10-8) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Shantou Express (IRE) 20-1 (10-11) Chased leader to 2 out, led approaching final flight (usual 2 out), headed when switched to nearside rail with a furlong left to run up the hill, weakened near finish, 5th of 8, 12 1/4l behind Captain Morgs (10-12) at Cheltenham 3m hcp (2) gd in Dec.
West Balboa (IRE) 7-4fav (12-0) Waited with in last trio, good headway chasing leaders after 3 out, 3rd before next, ridden and went 2nd approaching the last, stayed on same pace run-in, no extra and held final 150 yards, 2nd of 9, 1 3/4l behind Coquelicot (11-8) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Fifty Ball (FR) 6-5fav (11-7) Chased front pair, pressed leader before 2 out, ridden and led narrowly before last, pushed out and went clear run-in, won at Ascot 2m 6f hcp (3) gd in Mar beating Sizable Sam (11-11) by 4 1/2l, 4 ran.
Outlaw Peter (IRE) 4-7fav (11-6) Chased leaders, went 2nd 6th, led 8th, clear before last, easily, won at Exeter 2m 6f (3) gd in Nov beating Sporting Ace (11-6) by 19l, 8 ran.
Up For Parol (IRE) 3-1 (11-9) Chased leaders on inside, pushed along after 3 out, weakened quickly before next, 7th of 8, 24 1/4l behind Dorking Boy (11-3) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Apr.
Mark Of Gold 13-8fav (12-2) Towards rear, in touch, headway home turn, pushed along and pressed leaders 2 out, led before last, nudged out and went clear run-in, comfortably, won at Lingfield 2m 3f hcp (4) gs in Dec beating Has Troke (11-0) by 8 1/2l, 7 ran.
Dubrovnik Harry (IRE) 7-4fav (11-3) In rear, pushed along before 4 out, kept on for third towards finish, 3rd of 9, 13 1/4l behind Black Gerry (11-3) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Green Glory (IRE) 7-4fav (10-12) Towards rear, 9th halfway, headway after 3 out, pushed along to 3rd before last, closed run-in, ridden to lead final 100 yards, kept on best, won at Leopardstown 2m 4f hcp sft in Dec beating Spirit Of Legend (11-12) by 1l, 12 ran.
Rathmacknee (IRE) 10-3 (11-2) Towards rear, close up, tracked leaders 3 out, pushed along after 2 out, ridden 1f out on run-in, stayed on strongly and led closing stages, readily, won at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Dec beating Gaelik Coast (11-12) by 1 1/4l, 5 ran.
Scarface (IRE) 8-13fav (11-5) Made virtually all, hard ridden from 3 out, headed after last when not fluent, rallied final 100 yards, on top close home, won at Ascot 2m 6f (2) gd in Nov beating Ivaldi (11-4) by 1/2l, 3 ran.
Whizz Kid (GER) 20-1 (10-8) Mid-division, headway and switched right before 2 out, switched left after 2 out, driven before last, weakened flat, 6th of 13, 9 1/2l behind Romeo Brown (10-8) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Hermes Boy (FR) 6-1 (11-3) Mid-division, pushed along home turn, headway approaching 3 out, ridden before 2 out and stayed on to take 2nd run-in, no chance with easy winner, 2nd of 11, 8l behind Can You Call (11-2) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
