mid-division, jumped right at times, weakened after 4 out
held up in rear, not fluent when behind 5th, tailed off
led early, tracked leaders, not fluent and ridden 8th, one pace from 3 out, no impression
tracked leaders, stumbled and unseated rider 2nd
prominent, chased winner from 3rd, 3 lengths down when jumped left last, stayed on, no impression
took keen hold, held up, behind from 5th, tailed off
tracked leaders until after 4th, behind from 6th, tailed off
mid-division, headway 4th, ridden after 8th, one pace from 3 out, no impression
held up, not fluent 3rd, behind next, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
Veteran Kinkeel won this last year and was second at Southwell on Wednesday. His stable is going well and it would be no surprise to see him the firing-line again while Billy Murphy was runner-up over 2m4f here on Boxing Day, though it's not certain a further drop in distance will suit. Chestnut Ben won at Hereford last time and Bohemian Rock was successful over C&D last month, though looks held by Billy Murphy on later running. DEVILS RIVER was a long way behind Bohemian Rock last time but that wasn't his true running and he's steadily dropping down the weights. A return to anywhere near his best could see him spring a surprise today.
Drom 11-2 (10-9) With leaders, blundered 6th, led before 10th, headed before 3 out, ridden and weakened from 2 out, 5th of 11, 44l behind Quincy Des Pictons (10-9) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Dec.
Dr Anubis (IRE) 100-1 (10-7) Prominent, bumped 3rd, behind from 6th, tailed off, 4th of 5, well behind Kid Cassidy (11-0) at Ludlow 2m beg chase (4) gs.
Float My Boat 25-1 (11-0) In touch, driven from 6th, weakened 2 out, 5th of 12, 22l behind Rossbrin (10-7) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft in Feb.
Devils River (IRE) 11-1 (11-9) Jinked start, led or disputed lead until clear leader 8th, ridden and headed after 3 out, weakened next, 5th of 9, 49l behind Bohemian Rock (10-3) at Towcester 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Dec.
Chestnut Ben (IRE) 5-4fav (11-1) Chased leader until blundered 4th, went 2nd again 4 out, led approaching 3 out, clear from 2 out, eased closing stages (no time taken), won at Hereford 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft in Dec beating Knapp Bridge Boy (11-7) by 6l, 8 ran.
Billy Murphy 4-1 (10-2) Chased leaders, hampered 5th, in 3rd before 3 out, ridden before 2 out, kept on to take 2nd close home, no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 2 1/4l behind Pensnett Bay (10-11) at Towcester 2m 3f hcp 0-100 (5) gs in Dec.
Russellstown Boy (IRE) 3-1 (11-3) Chased leading trio, ridden before 3 out, stayed on same pace and no chance soon after, tailed off, 4th of 6, 29l behind Prince Louis (11-12) at Lingfield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft in Feb.
Bohemian Rock 10-3 (10-6) Tracked leaders, went 2nd after 5th until 4 out, ridden after next, 2nd and no impression when jumped right and not fluent last, stayed on same pace, demoted to 3rd flat, 3rd of 7, 5l behind Star Galaxy (11-5) at Huntingdon 2m hcp chs 0-100 (5) sft.
Kinkeel (IRE) 6-1 (10-5) In touch, chased leader 6th to 9th, soon ridden and outpaced, stayed on under pressure to go 2nd flat, no impression, 2nd of 10, 4l behind Original Prankster (11-12) at Southwell 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs.
Satindra (IRE) 66-1 (10-7) Held up in last pair, blundered 5th, soon struggling, tailed off from 7th, 5th of 7, well behind Ministerofinterior (10-11) at Leicester 2m 4f sll hdl (5) gd in Dec.
