in touch, pushed along when hit 8th, struggling in 5th 4 out, tailed off
close 5th until mistake and lost place 3rd, rallied to chase leaders again 7th, ridden before 11th, behind from after next, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
always in rear, not fluent 5th, tailed off
held up in 7th, pecked 9th, steady headway to 5th place approaching 11th, went 3rd 13th, went 2nd before 4 out until next, stayed in close 3rd, rallying when left 2nd last, stayed on to lead last stride
chased leaders, blundered and lost place 10th, plugged on, left moderate 4th last
chased leaders, led 3rd, hit 4 out, joined 2 out, stayed on until headed last stides
behind, steady headway to 6th at 12th, stumbled 14th, weakened 4 out, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders, slightly lost place briefly approaching 7th, soon on terms again, blundered 13th, weakened from 3 out, left modest 3rd last
led until 3rd, chased leader until before 4 out, went 2nd again next, upsides 2 out, disputing lead when blundered and unseated rider last
The veteran Deep Pockets won this a year ago from a 2lb lower mark and has undoubtedly been prepared for a repeat performance. Sarika had little chance from out of the handicap at Wincanton after landing two minor events at Exeter while Sole Agent, who scored at Lingfield last March, was having his first start since then when looking badly in need of the run at Towcester last month. Turbulance has never won over fences but produces the occasional decent effort as he did at Ludlow on his penultimate start while FLYING AWARD made a bright start over the bigger obstacles at Ffos Las recently where he made Kilcommon Pride pull out all the stops and can go one better. Ballinhassig is one of the few here with scope but is 12lb out of the handicap and coupled with a 3lb rise for his C&D victory last month this could prove just beyond him.
Deep Pockets (IRE) 16-1 (11-9) Pressed leader, led 7th until 10th, stayed chasing leader until ridden before 3 out, weakened before next, 4th of 9, 17l behind Storm Survivor (10-13) at Plumpton 3m 1f cond hcp hdl 0-1115 (4) gs in Jan.
Sarika (FR) 7-2 (10-0) Led until 2nd, pressed leader, led after 17th, headed 4 out, weakened 2 out, 3rd of 5, 49l behind Gurtacrue (10-8) at Wincanton 3m 1f nov ltd hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Jan.
Accumulus 25-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, blundered 9th, mistake 12th, soon struggling, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by It's Like That (11-5) at Uttoxeter 3m 2f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd in May, 6 ran.
Flying Award (IRE) 4-1 (11-3) In touch, keeping on when left 3rd 4 out, went 2nd next, challenged and chance 2 out, stayed on same pace from last, 2nd of 7, 1 1/2l behind Kilcommon Pride (11-9) at Ffos Las 3m nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft.
Or Sing About (FR) 80-1 (10-6) In rear, reminders after 8th, tailed off 17th, soon pulled up, in a race won by Drybrook Bedouin (11-8) at Exeter 4m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Dec, 13 ran.
Sole Agent (IRE) 28-1 (11-11) Tracked leaders, not fluent 2nd, lost ground on leaders 7th, weakened approaching 3 out, refused and refused rider last, in a race won by Lorikarad (11-9) at Towcester 2m 6f hts chs (6) sft in Jan, 17 ran.
According To Them (IRE) 33-1 (11-7) In rear, lost touch 5th, tailed off and pulled up soon after, in a race won by Well Green (11-2) at Lingfield 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) sft in Jan, 12 ran.
Turbulance (IRE) 9-4 (11-1) Led, jumped right and hit 5th, not fluent 8th, headed after next, weakened 3 out, blundered 2 out, 4th of 7, 35l behind Backstreet Billy (11-10) at Ffos Las 2m 5f hcp chs 0-95 (5) hvy in Jan.
Ballinhassig (IRE) 9-4fav (9-11) Led, narrowly headed 5th, chased leader until led again 13th, made rest, stayed on gamely from last, won at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp chs 0-100 (5) gs in Jan beating Tarquinius (10-12) by 1 3/4l, 9 ran.
