hed up towards rear, hit 3 out, headway on inside before 2 out, weakened betwen last 2
mid-division, headway before 3 out, soon chasing leaders, still well there 2 out, ridden soon after, weakened approaching last
mid-division, pushed along after 4th, ridden before 3 out, soon struggling and behind
chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened
held up in rear, mistake 3rd, good headway on wide outside well before 2 out, led 2 out, ridden before last, headed and no extra flat
behind, blundered and almost unseated rider 1st, went right next and pulled up
patiently ridden, held up towards rear on inside, steady headway when hit 5th, travelling well before 2 out, went 2nd approaching last, ridden to lead flat, kept on strongly
led until after 3rd, chased leaders, hit 3 out, still well there when ridden approaching 2 out, weakened between last 2
in touch, lost place 4th, weakened before 3 out
chased leaders, went 2nd and hit 3 out, led briefly approaching next, weakened before last
mid-division, headway approaching 2 out, stayed on well from last went 3rd final 100 yards, no impression on leading duo
prominent, ridden 3 out, weakened quickly before next
chased leaders, led after 3rd, ridden and headed before 2 out, weakened quickly
in rear, blundered 5th, plugged on past beaten horses from 2 out, mistake last
held up towards rear, good headway before 2 out, went 2nd 2 out, driven and lost 2nd approaching last, no impression when weakened to 4th final 100 yards
Havingotascoobydo was well backed for a competitive handicap over fences at Cheltenham on New Year's Day but was an early faller. He's rated 9lb lower over hurdles but may find himself outpaced by some of these. It was good to see veteran Afsoun return to winning ways at Newcastle while Alarazi was only beaten half-a-length when third at Ascot last time and appears to hold Ciceron on that run. He is 4lb higher here, however, as is Higgy's Ragazzo who was runner-up to stablemate Lifestyle at Kempton 11 days ago. Ruby Walsh is an interesting booking for northern raider Attaglance but there promises to be a fast pace in this finale and that should suit COTILLION, who was third over 2m4f here on his penultimate start before disappointing at Aintree. He's had a month off to recover from those exertions and deserves another chance.
I'm So Lucky 66-1 (11-10) Held up in last trio, headway on outside after 4 out, effort and every chance next until ridden and outpaced 2 out, weakened last, 7th of 11, 25l behind Sizing Europe (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m chs G1 (1) gd in Mar.
Alarazi (IRE) 16-1 (10-3) Pulled hard, soon prominent, led approaching 2 out, soon strongly challenged, headed last, stayed on under pressure, 3rd of 16, 3/4l behind Raya Star (10-1) at Ascot 2m Listed hcp hdl (1) sft in Dec.
Higgy's Ragazzo (FR) 10-3 (11-7) Steadied to 6th after 2nd, headway on outside before 2 out, challenged 2 out, went 2nd and wandered before last, kept on, not pace of winner flat, 2nd of 7, 3/4l behind Lifestyle (11-11) at Kempton 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Dec.
Afsoun (FR) 2-1fav (11-2) Made all, ridden after 2 out, stayed on well to go clear approaching last, comfortably, won at Newcastle 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Dec beating Falcun (9-10) by 8l, 5 ran.
Havingotascoobydo (IRE) 9-2fav (10-0) Held up in rear, fell 3rd, in a race won by Calgary Bay (10-4) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gs, 14 ran.
Attaglance 14-1 (10-12) Prominent, led 4th until next, weakened approaching last, 5th of 13, 36l behind Safran De Cotte (9-10) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) hvy in Dec.
Ciceron (IRE) 50-1 (10-0) Mid-division, mistake 3rd, weakened 3 out, 13th of 16, 15l behind Raya Star (10-1) at Ascot 2m Listed hcp hdl (1) sft in Dec.
Tasheba 28-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, outpaced 4 out, weakened before 2 out, 8th of 10, 49l behind Arab League (10-3) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Heathcote 7-1 (11-9) Mistakes, always in rear, last of 5, well behind Dead Or Alive (11-5) at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gf in May '10.
Lucaindubai (IRE) 15-8fav (11-7) Took keen hold, chased leader, hit 1st, challenged 3 out, soon narrow lead, headed before 2 out, chased winner, mistake 2 out, well held and not fluent when lost modest 2nd after last, 3rd of 8, 7l behind One For Joules (11-10) at Ffos Las 2m hcp hdl 0-140 (3) gd in Oct.
Cotillion 5-1 (10-3) Held up towards rear, some headway when mistake 8th, never on terms, weakened approaching 2 out, tailed off, 5th of 11, 49l behind Featherbed Lane (10-10) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) sft in Dec.
Synthe Davis (FR) 10-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, headway 5th, chasing leaders when blundered and ridden 7th, weakened 3 out, tailed off, 9th of 11, well behind Emmaslegend (10-11) at Ascot 2m 6f mares hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Nov.
Sacrilege 66-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, led approaching 3rd, headed before 2 out, faded last, 3rd of 8, 14l behind Rio Gael (11-2) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Mar.
Abbevillian (IRE) 10-3 (11-6) Chased clear leader, weakened after 3 out, soon no impression, 3rd of 11, 33l behind Captive Audience (10-13) at Bangor 3m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Apr '10.
Looks Like Slim 6-1 (10-9) Chased leader until after 3 out, weakened before next, 5th of 7, 9l behind Lifestyle (11-11) at Kempton 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Dec.
