held up in rear, ridden and headway over 2f out, never on terms, no impression over 1f out
held up, headway on inside over 3f out, not much room brielfy over 2f out, went 2nd inside final furlong, stayed on, no impression on winner
always handy, led over 2f out, ran on well
held up in mid-division, headway and switched right over 2f out, went 4th inside final furlong, never on terms
led early, chased leaders until halfway
tracked leaders, ridden over 4f out, lost place 3f out, soon weakened
mid-division, pushed along and headway 3f out, chased winner 2f out until inside final furlong, stayed on
held up in rear, well beaten over 3f out
held up in touch, ridden and lost place over 3f out
took keen hold, soon led, headed over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, no extra inside final furlong
in touch, not much room and lost place after about 1f, closed on outside over 4f out, soon pushed along, unable to quicken over 1f out, stayed on one pace
prominent, ridden and weakened over 2f out
held up towards rear, ridden and wide on bend 3f out, never in contention
Georgian King exceeded expectations in a handicap hurdle here last month. Bally Legend likes it here and has been in very good form in fences. This may be a little on the sharp side but he'll probably run his race again and is preferred to Caulfields Venture, who hasn't raced since winning at Fontwell in October, and Dawn Commander who also returns from a break. Heronry looks the pick of Nicky Henderson's two runners ahead of the returning Shakalakaboomboom but the one to beat in this is probably SOUTHFIELD THEATRE, who has been competitive in decent company over hurdles since completing his hat-trick at Wincanton in the autumn and has his sights lowered here.
Ballybach (IRE) 28-1 (11-9) Led, headed after 2nd, led 5th, headed before 6th, weakened before 2 out, soon pulled up, in a race won by King Boru (11-12) at Taunton 3m nov hcp 0-115 (4) gd in Nov, 9 ran.
Bally Legend 5-1 (11-11) Went left start, chased leader, led 3rd, made rest, joined 3 out, ridden and headed before last, dropped to 3rd when blundered badly last, weakened to 4th flat, 4th of 9, 7l behind Ma Filleule (11-9) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft in Dec.
Caulfields Venture (IRE) 3-1fav (11-0) With leaders, soon lost place and in touch, in 5th before 3 out, headway before last, switched left run-in, kept on to lead close home, won at Fontwell 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Oct beating Franklino (11-12) by hd, 8 ran.
Dawn Commander (GER) 5-1 (11-2) Led, hit and headed 4th, tracked leaders, ridden when dropped to rear 7th, pulled up 3 out, in a race won by Wiesentraum (11-0) at Fakenham 3m hcp chs 0-140 (3) gd in Oct, 10 ran.
Estates Recovery (IRE) 33-1 (11-3) Held up towards rear, pecked 4th, pushed along after 9th, reminders before 13th, weakened next, tailed off and pulled up before 15th, in a race won by Incentivise (10-0) at Fontwell 3m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Nov '12, 9 ran.
Georgian King 25-1 (10-9) Led until after 2nd, rallied after 3 out, chased winner next, soon no impression, 2nd of 12, 11l behind Junction Fourteen (11-3) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Dec.
Heronry (IRE) 11-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders in 3rd, chased winner before 5th, ridden before 2 out, kept on and no impression, 2nd of 7, 16l behind Cyrien Star (10-9) at Bangor 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Dec.
Kapricorne (FR) 16-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders in 3rd, weakened before 9th, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Roses Legend (10-1) at Hereford 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gf in May '12, 9 ran.
Moscow Mule 17-2 (10-10) Held up towards rear, mistake 5th, lost touch and struggling 8th, tailed off 9th, pulled up before 11th, in a race won by Orang Outan (11-0) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (5) gd in Jun, 9 ran.
Picaroon 9-2 (11-0) Led til hdd aft 4 out; wknd app 2 out, 6th of 13, 34l behind Rear Gunner (11-0) at Cottenham 3m ptp gs in Dec '12.
Shakalakaboomboom (IRE) 8-1fav (10-12) With leaders, led 3rd to 12th, tracked leader, led again 23rd (canal turn), headed next (valentines), regained narrow lead 4 out, headed after 2 out, weakened last, 9th of 40, 28l behind Neptune Collonges (11-6) at Aintree 4m 4f (1) gd in Apr '12.
Southfield Theatre (IRE) 7-2 (11-7) In touch, pushed along 3 out, ridden and one paced from next, left 3rd last, 3rd of 8, 11l behind Champagne West (10-2) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl (2) hvy in Dec.
Whispering Jack 25-1 (10-11) Chased leaders in 3rd, led before 6th, jumped left 14th, headed 17th, weakened from 4 out, 6th of 9, well behind Flying Award (10-13) at Wincanton 3m 3f hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy.
Midnight Macarena 16-1 (10-4) Tracked leaders, mistake 2nd, lost place after 7th, soon behind, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Good Order (11-11) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Dec, 8 ran.
Master Cardor Visa (IRE) 25-1 (11-5) Always in rear, 10th of 15, 32l behind Rigolo Ville (11-6) at Exeter 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Nov.
