raced wide, made virtully all, pushed along and came clear from 2 out, stayed on strongly, driven out, gamely
raced wide, took keen hold tracking leaders, hit 3 out, 2nd travelling well before 2 out until dropped to 3rd 2 out, driven and found nil between last two
chased leaders on inside, 2nd 4 out until pushed along before 2 out, weakened quickly
raced on inside, chased winner until 4 out, chased leaders, weakened soon after 3 out
held up in rear, jumped slowly and reminder 6th, tailed off 3 out
held up in last trio, steady headway on inside tracking leaders 4 out, mistake and lost place next, struggling and no chance after
tracked leaders, riddena nd weakened quickly before 2 out, mistake last
took keen hold, held up in last trio, last pair 4th, headway tracking leaders before 3 out, went 2nd and awkward 2 out, kept on same pace and no impression on winner
Nonrunner
Auvergnat was making his UK debut when third at Taunton. He should be more effective over this longer trip and has to go on the short-list. No No Mac got back to winning ways at Market Rasen last month and Shammick Boy has won his last two starts at Wincanton and Exeter. The latter appears to have the beating of River Deep on the latest of those victories. Foggy's Wall has a decent strike-rate but his absence since June is a bit of a worry. ANDY KELLY didn't really fire in a couple of runs before Christmas but it could be that this is more his time of year. He was rated 4lb higher than when winning over course and distance last March and a repeat performance would put him in the firing-line.
Shammick Boy (IRE) 16-1 (11-8) Raced wide, chased leader, led narrowly 2nd until before 5th, chased clear leader until after 3 out, chased leaders,
Foggy's Wall (IRE) 12-1 (11-2) Mid-division on outside, headway 7th, went 2nd before 2 out until not fluent last, no extra towards finish, 7th of 12, 4l behind Bob Keown (10-6) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-140 (3) gd in Jun.
Auvergnat (FR) 16-1 (11-12) Chased leading trio, pushed along in 3rd before 3 out, one pace and no impression when dropped to 4th before the last, regained modest 3rd in closing stages, 3rd of 10, 13l behind Dusky Lark (11-3) at Taunton 2m 1f (3) sft.
Andy Kelly (IRE) 11-2 (10-13) Chased leaders, weakening when not fluent 2 out, 7th of 9, 27l behind Cup Final (11-6) at Sandown 2m 6f hcp hdl (2) sft in Dec.
Landscape (FR) 25-1 (11-0) Led until 1st (normal 3rd), prominent, weakened well before omitted last, last of 9, 46l behind Lightentertainment (10-10) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl (2) sft in Jan.
River Deep (IRE) 6-1 (11-5) Held up in rear, mistake 2nd, steady headway approaching 6th, pushed along and one pace in 5th after 3 out, 5th of 9, 17l behind Shammick Boy (11-8) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-140 (3) hvy in Jan.
Moveable Asset (IRE) 50-1 (11-5) Raced wide in mid-division, ridden hung left on home turn and soon weakened, behind when blundered badly 2 out, tailed off, last of 11, well behind Castlemorris King (11-7) at Ludlow 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Apr.
Master Benjamin 7-2 (10-12) Took keen hold tracking leaders, challenged travelling well 2 out, led last, no extra and headed final 110 yards, lost 2nd close home, 3rd of 12, 1 1/4l behind Warden Hill (10-12) at Kempton 2m 5f nov hdl (4) gs in Oct '13.
No No Mac (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Held up in touch, led before 2 out, clear last, driven out, won at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Jan beating Rock Relief (10-0) by 4l, 6 ran.
