held up in rear in touch, headway to join winner 5 out, in touch when fell next
with leader, led or disputed lead from 4th, blundered and lost place 12th, soon behind, weakened before 4 out, pulled up next
led narrowly to 4th, tracked leaders, effort on outside 4 out, ridden and one pace approaching last, no impression flat
tracked leaders, headway to lead 5 out, wandered approaching 2 out, ridden flat, hard pressed towards finish, just held on
held up in touch, outpaced in 6th after 5 out, left 5th when hampered next, rallied before last, ridden and stayed on strongly flat, every chance towards finish, just held
with leader, led or disputed lead from 4th, narrow advantage when headed 5 out, driven before next, kept on same pace, no impression flat
raced keenly, tracked leaders, left 2nd 4 out, effort next, ridden and every chance flat, no extra in 3rd towards finish
This looks a decent contest for the track which is complicated by the fact that in-form Ian Williams saddles two recent winners. Wayne Hutchinson partners course and distance scorer Bobcatbilly but we are going to stick with DRUMLANG, who bolted up at Leicester last time. Robert McCarth's claim takes care of most of the extra 7lb. Be All Man couldn't quite complete the hat-trick at Taunton last time but this step up in distance will suit and his yard is going well. Cloudy Joker got off the mark at Musselburgh last month but the others probably have a bit to find to get involved.
Lord Grantham (IRE) 10-1 (11-2) Soon held up in mid-division, ridden before 3 out, well beaten before next, pulled up before last, in a race won by Church Field (10-4) at Cartmel 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-140 (3) gf in Jul, 12 ran.
Be All Man (IRE) 9-2 (11-4) Tracked leaders, soon chased winner, kept on and no impression from 3 out, 2nd of 7, 8l behind Workbench (10-9) at Taunton 2m nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Nov.
Copper Birch (IRE) 20-1 (11-6) Mid-division, not fluent 2nd, ridden after 6th, well beaten when mistake 2 out, 16th of 19, 37l behind Home Run (11-1) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Nov.
Cloudy Joker (IRE) 17-2 (11-12) Led, headed 3rd, tracked leader, led 4 out, kept on well from last, won at Musselburgh 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Nov beating Ballymoat (11-12) by 2 1/4l, 8 ran.
Benbens (IRE) 5-1fav (11-4) Mid-division, headway when hit 8th, went 2nd after 2 out, 4th and beaten when blundered last, weakened flat, 6th of 17, 19l behind Abnaki (10-10) at Cheltenham 3m nov hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Apr '12.
Kingcora (FR) 16-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, lost place 2 out, 14th of 19, 33l behind Home Run (11-1) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Nov.
Bobcatbilly (IRE) 7-2 (11-5) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 4 out, led narrowly next, ridden and headed narrowly flat, rallied to regain lead final stride, won at Ludlow 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd beating King Massini (11-9) by hd, 9 ran.
Drumlang (IRE) 7-2 (11-5) Tracked leaders, closing when left 2nd 3 out, led next, clear last, easily, won at Leicester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf beating Roc De Guye (10-10) by 11l, 9 ran.
