mid-division, mistake and dropped rear 2nd, ridden when not fluent 7th, well behind after 3 out
tracked leader, not fluent 4th, ridden after 3 out, weakened before next
made all, pushed along when hit 2 out, ridden and stayed on well
tracked leaders, went 2nd after 3 out, close up when ducked in behind winner last, edged left flat, no impression
took keen hold, tracked leaders, not fluent 4th, outpaced after 3 out, weakened before 2 out
tracked leaders, not fluent 5th, lost place 7th, well beaten after 3 out
held up in rear, headway when mistake 7th, went 3rd before 2 out, no impression
in rear, ridden after 6th, well behind 3 out
Bold Raider is dropped in class and has the best recent form with placed efforts at Wincanton and at Doncaster on his latest start. But today's testing ground is worry for him so a chance is taken on TROZULON. The latter returned from 18 months off the track with a creditable third in heavy going at Towcester and Harry Challoner's claim further helps his cause in this. Kodicil gets first-time blinkers having failed to build on his earlier second at Sedgefield and King Zeal didn't get home at Uttoxeter last time after scoring on a faster surface over these hurdles last month.
Bold Raider (IRE) 3-1 (10-9) Mid-division, headway 3rd, driven after 3 out, stayed on same pace from next, 3rd of 8, 3 1/2l behind Fix It Right (11-5) at Doncaster 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gd in Nov.
Expanding Universe (IRE) 9-2 (11-7) Chased leaders, pushed along before 6th, weakened before 3 out, tailed off, 7th of 8, well behind Jeano De Toulouse (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) hvy in Dec.
Kodicil (IRE) 9-1 (11-12) Mid-division, kept on one pace final 2, 4th of 11, 20l behind Grate Fella (11-8) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft.
Murtys Delight (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, ridden after 3 out, never dangerous, 6th of 15, 37l behind Masquerade (10-9) at Bangor 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gs in Dec.
King Zeal (IRE) 7-2fav (10-3) Tracked leaders, lost place approaching 2 out, soon weakened, pulled up before last, in a race won by Ut Majeur Aulmes (11-4) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gs in Dec, 11 ran.
Trozulon (FR) 7-2 (11-8) Prominent on inside, took keen hold, led before 3 out, headed after next, no extra and lost 2nd flat, 3rd of 6, 7l behind He's The Daddy (11-1) at Towcester 2m 5f (4) hvy in Dec.
In The Gate (IRE) 9-1 (11-0) Mid-division, outpaced after 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 12, 37l behind Red Sherlock (11-0) at Southwell 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gd in Dec.
Reelwill (FR) 50-1 (9-7) Left 2nd at 1st, jumped right after, tracked clear leader, dropped to rear 8th, lost touch 10th, tailed off when pulled up after 3 out (usual 4 out), in a race won by Roc D'apsis (11-3) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Dec, 8 ran.
Thinger Licht (FR) 33-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, lost place 3rd, pushed along after next, behind 6th, 6th of 8, well behind Stow (10-11) at Leicester 2m 4f sell hdl (5) sft in Dec.
