mid-division, headway after 2nd, left 2nd next, led 4th until 7th, stayed 2nd until 12th, 5th when hit 15th and slithered on landing, lost any chance and soon well behind, pulled up before 4 out
tracked leaders, fell 3rd
mid-division, in rear when jumped right 7th, behind when pulled up after 11th (water)
held up in rear, hampered 3rd, blundered badly and unseated rider 6th
mid-division, hampered 3rd, headway 12th, went 2nd after 2 out, stayed on flat, just held
tracked leader until blundered and unseated rider 3rd
tracked leaders, mistake 1st, hampered 3rd, mistake 15th, jumped right and hit 4 out, jumped right and no extra next
held up in rear, jumped left 1st, pushed along after 9th, 5th and in touch after 15th, mistake when weakening 4 out
led until 4th, led again 7th, headed 15th, weakened flat
held up in rear, hampered 3rd and 6th, in touch in 6th after 15th, no impression on leaders 4 out, went 4th 2 out
mid-division, hampered 3rd, went 3rd 7th, chased leader 12th, led 15th, carried slightly right by loose horse 4 out, hung right flat, held on well
Nonrunner
A P McCoy is Chesapeake's regular partner but the champ prefers Rebecca Curtis' Made In Time here. The latter won at Ffos Las last month and still had every chance when unseating his rider at Newbury next time. Edgeover will have needed his reappearance over hurdles at Leicester and will strip fitter here, while Battlecry isn't without a chance having ended a long losing run at Newbury recently. Always Bold could be interesting back over fences and the hat-trick-seeking Chapolimoss appears to be improving but we'll give another chance to TIME FOR SPRING. He didn't quite get home when favourite at Cheltenham last time but still had Fort View behind and looked a novice with a future when scoring on his chasing bow at Carlisle.
Cast Cada (IRE) 14-1 (11-1) Held up towards rear, blundered 7th, detached 9th, reminders before 12th, tailed off, pulled up before 17th, in a race won by Midnight Haze (11-11) at Ludlow 3m 1f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs, 9 ran.
Fort View (IRE) 16-1 (10-13) Led until 4th, led 8th until not fluent 11th, weakened after 4 out, tailed off, 8th of 13, well behind Swing Bill (11-1) at Cheltenham 3m am hcp chs 0-140 (3) gd in Nov.
Ten Fires (GER) 8-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, headway into 2nd 3 out, challenged 2 out, ridden entering straight, under pressure in close 3rd when fell last, in a race won by Groody Hill (11-0) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp chs 0-116 hvy in Oct, 12 ran.
Edgeover 10-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, headway after 7th, weakened approaching 2 out, 3rd of 6, 26l behind Fiendish Flame (11-8) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs.
Time For Spring (IRE) 10-3fav (10-13) Mid-division, jumped right and headway 11th, went 3rd after 3 out, soon outpaced by front pair, lost 3rd and no extra when bumped last, 5th of 13, 28l behind Swing Bill (11-1) at Cheltenham 3m am hcp chs 0-140 (3) gd in Nov.
Made In Time (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Prominent, tended to jump right, led 4th until 6th, 2nd when mistake and unseated rider 9th, in a race won by Roalco De Farges (11-6) at Newbury 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Nov, 15 ran.
Pyracantha 33-1 (10-8) Led, joined 6th, pressed 13th, ridden when mistake stumbled and headed 3 out, soon no extra in 3rd, plugged on from last, 3rd of 7, 14l behind Invictus (10-7) at Hereford 2m 5f Novice Handicap Chase (0-135) (4yo+) (3) gd in Nov.
Chesapeake (IRE) 22-1 (11-12) Held up in touch, slow 9th, lost place before 12th, soon beaten, behind when pulled up last, in a race won by No Principles (11-8) at Market Rasen 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs, 9 ran.
Battlecry 10-3 (10-8) Made all, jumped left 8th, not fluent 4 out, pushed along when jumped left 3 out, ridden 6 lengths clear when jumped left last, hung right flat, stayed on, won at Newbury 3m 2f am hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Nov beating Noakarad De Verzee (11-5) by 7l, 7 ran.
Always Bold (IRE) 5-2fav (11-11) Held up in rear, effort before 3 out, no headway, 5th of 9, 30l behind Howizee (11-0) at Doncaster 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs.
Only Witness (IRE) 28-1 (11-3) Held up in last trio, headway 14th, chased leading pair approaching last (usual 2 out), challenged approaching omitted last, kept on and every chance flat, just held, 2nd of 10, nk behind Inga Bird (11-2) at Huntingdon 3m nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs.
Chapolimoss (FR) 8-1 (10-9) Settled in rear, headway 11th, chased leaders next, effort 2 out, stayed on strongly to lead flat, ridden out, won at Bangor 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Nov beating Quotica De Poyans (11-9) by 4l, 7 ran.
Mister Wiseman 20-1 (11-5) Led until 12th, soon lost place, pulled up 5 out, in a race won by Oscar Gogo (10-9) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy, 15 ran.
