held up, off the pace in 5th, closer 10th, left disputing 2nd 12th until 4 out, chased leaders, ridden and weakened before next
held up, off the pace in 4th, closer 10th, left disputing 2nd 11th, pushed along and lost 2nd before 3 out, chased leading pair, kept on same pace run-in
took keen hold, tracked leader, led briefly after 3rd, blundered badly and lost place 11th, soon behind, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
patiently ridden, held up off the pace in last pair, awkward 5th, smooth headway 11th, tracked leaders 4 out, 2nd before next, led 3 out, clear after next, awkward last, stayed on strongly
held up last and well off the pace, headway 11th, chased leading trio after 4 out, stayed on into 2nd approaching the last, kept on same pace and no chance with winner
led until after 3rd, chased clear leading pair and clear of rest, closer 10th, mistake and weakened rapidly 11th, tailed off 4 out, soon pulled up
led after 3rd, set strong pace and soon clear, reduced lead 10th, ridden and headed 3 out, chased winner, no impression when lost 2nd approaching the last, no extra run-in
CALETT MAD (NAP) remains unexposed and, though the handicapper has done him no favours by raising him 5lb since his second at Ludlow, can prove too strong for these. Qualando won a Grade 3 over hurdles but one suspects he’s been put over fences because he’s in the handicapper’s grip over the smaller obstacles. He only beat one home at Cheltenham and then finished last of four at Ascot. Tempestatefloresco has not managed a win in six attempts since scoring at Newton Abbot in August and has fallen twice. Roc D'apsis has shown little since returning from a break and Cheltenham winner Troika Steppes was pulled up next time at Aintree but Red Devil Lads ran well for a long way over hurdles at Chepstow and could figure if transferring that form back to chasing and makes more appeal than Tindaro.
Qualando (FR) 15-2 (11-2) Alternated 3rd and 4th place until dropped to 4th 13th, still well there when driven along before 2 out, weakened after 2 out, last of 4, 17l behind Different Gravey (11-2) at Ascot 2m 3f (3) gs in Nov.
Tempestatefloresco 12-1 (10-10) Mid-division, headway 4th, not much room 7th, jumped left 5 out, lost place before next, weakened 3 out, 5th of 8, 18l behind Pobbles Bay (11-1) at Chepstow 3m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Red Devil Lads (IRE) 20-1 (11-4) Led after 1st, not fluent 8th, headed 2 out, no extra before last, 7th of 17, 28 1/2l behind Shantou Bob (11-11) at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Calett Mad (FR) 11-4fav (11-2) Prominent, led 8th, soon joined, headed approaching when mistake 5 out, rallied and every chance after next, stayed on same pace approaching last, 2nd of 15, 5l behind Fox Appeal (11-9) at Ludlow 3m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Roc D'Apsis (FR) 8-1 (10-9) Raced keenly, tracked leaders, 3rd after 13th until blundered and weakened 17th, soon behind, 5th and no chance when blundered 2 out, 5th of 7, dist behind Gentleman Jon (10-6) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp lst (1) gd in Nov.
Tindaro (FR) 33-1 (9-11) Led 2f, close up, ridden and weakened over 1f out, 7th of 8, 9 3/4l behind Alfredo (9-13) at Lingfield 2m hcp (4) pol in Dec.
Troika Steppes 10-1 (10-5) Always towards rear, blundered 4 out, pulled up before 2 out, at Aintree 2m 5f hcp (2) gs in Dec.
