chased leaders, hit 10th, went 2nd 15th, left in clean led to bend after 17th, unchallenged after, eased flat
in touch, hit 1st, driven along 9th, mistake 11th and 14th, left moderate 2nd after 17th, stayed on from 3 out, never able to challenge
chased leaders, hit 3rd, never really travelling after, reminders and dropped to rear 6th, well tailed off when pulled up before 17th
held up, headway into 3rd when blundered and unseated rider 11th (water)
led until headed 13th, soon driven along, lost 2nd 15th, well outpaced 17th, stayed on again from 2 out, went poor 3rd soon after last
chased leader, led 13th, going strongly when hit rail on bend and unseated rider after 17th
chased leaders, blundered 12th, soon dropped to rear, never travelling after, tailed off when pulled up before last
rear, hit 3rd and 13th, left poor 3rd 4 out until soon after last
Tom Sayers would have every chance if ready for his first outing in 464 days and Philip Hobbs is more than capable of getting one ready but the 11-year-old looks plenty high enough in the weights and a better bet appears to be recent Doncaster winner CHURCH ISLAND, who gets the verdict ahead of Go For One. The Venetia Williams-trained gelding ran well when chasing home Nicto De Beauchene at Wincanton when last seen on Boxing Day and has to be respected on that evidence especially from such an in-form yard but he has been raised 8lbs for that outing and may now be too high in the weights. Alan King's Yardbird ran better at Kempton last time in December and has been given every chance by the handicapper, while Darkness is probably best watched having been pulled up at Chepstow when last seen in December. David Pipe's Puntal is another that has been off the track for some time and has had his last two starts in cross country races at Cheltenham but he has to be considered. Church Island was good value for his win at Doncaster earlier this month though and off just an 8lb higher mark today, Michael Hourigan's gelding is taken to win again.
Darkness 14-1 (10-5) Held up, soon ridden along, tailed off when pulled up 5 out in race won by Notre Pere (11-0) at Chepstow 3m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) sft in Dec, 20 ran.
Church Island (IRE) 14-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, led 4 out, hit last, kept on well, won at Doncaster 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs beating King Barry (11-1) by 7l, 12 ran.
Tom Sayers (IRE) 2-1 (11-12) Led after 1st, ridden 18th, headed approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 3rd of 6, 31l behind Geeveem (11-2) at Wincanton 3m 3f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Nov '07.
Go For One (IRE) 7-4fav (11-8) Held up in mid-division, headway 5 out, went 2nd after 4 out, ridden and 4 lengths down when blundered next, no chance with winner, 2nd of 11, 15l behind Nicto De Beauchene (10-7) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Dec.
Puntal (FR) 13-2 (10-10) Tracked leaders early, losing place in midfield when slow 18th, soon behind, 10th of 16, 48l behind Dix Villez (10-10) at Cheltenham 3m 7f crs cty chs (2) sft in Nov.
Irish Raptor (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, lost place when blundered 12th, tailed off when pulled up 5 out in race won by Big Fella Thanks (11-2) at Doncaster 3m lst hcp chs (1) sft in Jan, 13 ran.
Yardbird (IRE) 12-1 (10-10) Chased leaders, went 2nd after 4th until 2 out, weakened into 3rd when hit last, 3rd of 18, 12l behind Fleet Street (11-10) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-140 (2) gd in Dec.
I Hear Thunder (IRE) 5-1 (10-11) In touch, chased leaders 10th, ridden and weakened after 4 out, left 2nd flat, 2nd of 8, 40l behind Pangbourne (11-3) at Taunton 3m 3f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Jan.
