chased leaders, ridden and weakened before 2 out
chased leader until pushed along before 2 out, chased leaders, weakened before last
always towards rear, never on terms
chased leaders on outside, 2nd going well before 2 out, led and not fluent 2 out, driven and stayed on run-in, all out
towards rear, struggling 9th, never on terms
towards rear most of way, tailed off
held up and behind, good headway on wide outside before 2 out, 3rd soon after 2 out, went 2nd and hit last, ridden and stayed on run-in, always held
held up towards rear, headway on outside into mid-division before 7th, chasing leaders when hit 3 out, 2nd soon after next, held when lost 2nd last, stayed on same pace run-in
mid-division, weakened before 2 out
held up towards rear, some headway on inside before 2 out, soon beaten
mid-division, headway chasing leaders before 2 out, ridden in 4th and no impression when hit last, stayed on same pace run-in
always towards rear, never a factor
mid-division, weakened 3 out, tailed off and pulled up before last
keen, tracked leaders, weakened after 2 out
led, jumped slowly 2nd, headed 2 out, soon lost 2nd, chased leaders, weakened quickly before last
keen in mid-division on inside, jumped slowly 8th, headway chasing leaders before 2 out, ridden and weakened approaching last
held up towards rear, headway on outside chasing leaders before 3 out, ridden and weakening when hit last
NonRunner
Topofthegame is only 3lb higher than when fourth in the Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton last month. He hasn’t got many miles on the clock so may have more to offer, though this will be his first try over 3m. Theligny was only worn down over 2m5f at Newbury but may not want to travel much further. Melrose Boy was successful on his only previous run in a handicap and arrives off the back of a wide-margin victory in novice company, as does the even less-exposed Dashing Perk. Flemcara and Golan Fortune have already enjoyed profitable campaigns while King Of Fashion is sure to have benefited from his run behind Kris Spin at Ayr and re-opposes on better terms. Prime Venture has shot up the weights but remains in good form and Okotoks attracted market support on his debut for Fergal O’Brien, who trained last year’s winner, at Cheltenham but found the trip too short. He still has plenty of scope over this sort of distance and could have got in here on a lenient mark but TAJ BADALANDABAD hacked up at Huntingdon after a pipe-opener at Wincanton. He has been raised 8lb but has a good strike-rate and trip and ground today are ideal.
Beat That (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, outpaced 3 out, headway before next, chased leaders approaching last, never able to challenge, 3rd of 8, 9 1/4l behind Holly Bush Henry (10-12) at Sandown 2m 7f hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Ubak (FR) 66-1 (11-7) Last pair, dropped to rear 7th, never on terms after, 7th of 8, 32 1/4l behind Sam Spinner (11-7) at Ascot 3m (1) gs in Dec.
Prime Venture (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear on outside, headway 4 out, went 4th last, rider dropped rein flat, stayed on same pace, 4th of 12, 5 3/4l behind Black Ivory (10-10) at Warwick 3m 1f hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Topofthegame (IRE) 11-1 (11-6) Held up towards rear of mid-division, headway on wide outside approaching 2 out, went 4th before the last, kept on under pressure run-in, not pace to challenge, 4th of 16, 2 3/4l behind William Henry (11-12) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp lst (1) sft in Jan.
Flemcara (IRE) 11-2 (10-11) Held up in rear, headway going well 3 out, led well before last, soon edged left, wandered flat, driven out, won at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) hvy in Jan beating Shantou Bob (11-12) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Taj Badalandabad (IRE) 9-1 (10-1) Held up in rear, went mid-division 4th, closed 4 out, left 2nd when mistake 3 out, led before 2 out, clear approaching last, eased close home, won at Huntingdon 3m 1f hcp (2) sft in Jan beating The Mighty Don (10-3) by 6l, 8 ran.
Golan Fortune (IRE) 7-2 (10-9) Tracked leaders, led approaching 2 out, stayed on strongly, won at Kempton 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Dec beating Kildisart (11-0) by 3 3/4l, 14 ran.
Melrose Boy (FR) 1-10fav (10-12) Led, jumped off all weather strip before not fluent 2nd, edged right on bend before 4th then headed, led 5th, headed 7th, led 4 out, clear from 2 out, easily, won at Fontwell 2m 6f (4) hvy in Jan beating Now Listen Here (10-12) by dist, 4 ran.
Kris Spin (IRE) 9-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, lost place when slow 3rd, headway before 8th, weakened before last, 6th of 12, 14 1/4l behind Black Ivory (10-10) at Warwick 3m 1f hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Buywise (IRE) 12-1 (10-8) Held up towards rear, steady headway approaching 4 out, 5th and still plenty to do 2 out, closed and went 2nd last, led run-in, driven out, won at Sandown 3m hcp (2) hvy in Jan beating Pete The Feat (10-0) by 2l, 14 ran.
Folsom Blue (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, ridden in 5th 3 out, 4th next, kept on same pace run-in, 4th of 13, 5 3/4l behind Red Devil Lads (11-5) at Navan 2m 7f hcp Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Okotoks (IRE) 5-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, not fluent 2nd, closed before next, ridden after 2 out, beaten before last, weakened flat, 7th of 10, 9 1/4l behind Smaoineamh Alainn (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
King Of Fashion (IRE) 7-1 (11-6) Held up mid-division, in 4th before 3 out, ridden before last, kept on same pace, 4th of 11, 8 1/2l behind Kris Spin (11-5) at Ayr 3m hcp (3) hvy in Nov.
Dashing Perk 6-4 (11-2) Led, headed after 3rd, led before 2 out, soon clear, easily, won at Wincanton 2m 5f (4) hvy in Jan beating Criq Rock (11-2) by 22l, 4 ran.
Fourth Act (IRE) 15-8fav (10-7) Made virtually all, not fluent 6th, mistake 4 out, clear flat, stayed on, won at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp (3) hvy in Jan beating Theo's Charm (11-12) by 4 1/2l, 5 ran.
Doesyourdogbite (IRE) 9-1 (10-13) Always behind, 13th of 14, 34 3/4l behind Golan Fortune (10-9) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Man Of Plenty 16-1 (10-2) Held up in last pair, headway on outside chasing leaders 4 out, plugged on into 4th before 2 out, 4th of 13, 6 1/2l behind Jenkins (11-8) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp (1) sft in Jan.
Theligny (FR) 7-1 (11-4) Led, clear 2nd, hit next, reduced lead after 4 out, joined when hit 3 out and headed, chased leader, led again before last, headed near finish, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Brave Eagle (11-2) at Newbury 2m 5f hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
