in touch, not fluent 3rd, struggling when mistake 9th, behind 10th, pulled up before next
mid-division, headway 8th, struggling before 13th, went remote 4th after 2 out
tracked leaders, lost place 11th, struggling 13th, well beaten before 2 out, pulled up before last
took keen hold, led until mistake 14th, ridden and no impression on winner 2 out, lost 2nd close home
held up, not fluent 8th, challenged after 11th, every chance 3 out, soon beaten, 4th and weakening when clambered over 2 out and pulled up
held up, fell 6th
prominent, ridden 8th, mistake 9th, lost place after 11th, pulled up before 2 out
prominent, led 14th, clear 2 out, stayed on well
in touch, ridden in 4th after 12th, outpaced 4 out, stayed on from 2 out, went 2nd close home, no chance with winner
in rear, bad mistake 1st, mistake 6th, ridden 11th, behind when pulled up before 13th
held up, ridden 6th, behind 8th, pulled up before next
Royaume Bleu fell at the second here last month and brought down subsequent Southwell runner-up Kilvergan Boy in a race in which Top Benefit finished tailed off. But Alex Hales' charge has gone well here in the past. Mansonien L'As is on a winning mark and was third at Chepstow on his first start for Donald McCain, though beaten 28 lengths. Recent Leicester second TINELYRA tackles 3m and soft ground for the first time under Rules but was placed over the trip on easy ground between the flags and shouldn't have any problems. He can get the better of Billybo, who may be slightly flattered by his form figures.
Atriptomilan (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, not fluent 3rd or 8th, mistake 9th, struggling from 11th, behind when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Chandlers Cross (10-5) at Uttoxeter 3m nov hcp chs 0-100 (5) gf in Jul, 9 ran.
River D'or (FR) 11-2 (10-1) Led to 3rd, chased leaders, weakened from 10th, pulled up, in a race won by Major Malarkey (11-5) at Exeter 4m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd, 12 ran.
Jolly Boys Outing (IRE) 16-1 (9-9) Took keen hold, tracked leaders, ridden after 4 out, 2 lengths down in 3rd when mistake next, no chance with front pair before 2 out, lost remote 3rd towards finish, 4th of 5, 22l behind Gorgehous Lliege (10-10) at Towcester 3m hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft.
Royaume Bleu (FR) 7-1 (11-12) Took keen hold, prominent, led when fell 2nd, in a race won by Quayside Court (9-10) at Towcester 3m cnd hcp chs (0-95) (5) gs in Nov, 10 ran.
Billybo 6-5fav (10-12) Led until 4 out, ridden and no impression on winner 2 out, just held on for 2nd, 2nd of 4, 21l behind Lamb's Cross (11-7) at Ffos Las 2m 3f hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft in Nov.
Tinelyra (IRE) 5-4fav (10-10) Held up in rear, mistake 5th, headway 8th, chased winner 4 out, driven and every chance last, stayed on same pace flat, 2nd of 8, 1l behind Mr Bachster (10-10) at Leicester 2m 4f cnd hcp chs (0-95) (5) gf in Nov.
Barton Gift 9-4fav (10-5) Mid-division, not fluent 2nd or 3rd, never on terms, no impression approaching 4 out, 5th of 9, 21l behind Ifyousayso (11-11) at Leicester 2m 7f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gf.
Mansonien L'as (FR) 11-4fav (11-0) Chased leader, driven along before 5 out, left in slight lead 4 out, slightly hampered by loose horse next, ridden and headed 2 out, no impression when lost 2nd last, weakened flat, finished tired, 3rd of 9, 28l behind Glenwood Prince (11-9) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-95 (5) hvy in Nov.
Kilvergan Boy (IRE) 7-2 (10-6) Tracked leaders on inside, left 2nd when hampered 4 out, challenged next, ridden to lead narrowly last, headed and no extra near finish, 2nd of 8, 1/2l behind Phoenix Des Mottes (9-9) at Southwell 3m 2f hcp 0-100 (5) gd.
Bobbisox (IRE) 100-1 (11-2) Chased leader until 5th, in touch, not fluent 9th, outpaced 13th, well beaten when hit 4 out, tailed off, last of 5, 38l behind Definite Memories (11-2) at Uttoxeter 3m beg chs (4) sft in Nov.
Cash In Hand (IRE) 50-1 (9-9) Raced keenly, led, headed when leader took wrong course after 9th, lost place after 4 out, soon behind, 4th of 7, well behind Waltzing Tornado (11-13) at Towcester 2m 6f am hcp ch 0-95 (5) gs in Nov.
Thats Ben (IRE) 6-1 (11-7) Led, jumped left 7th and 8th, ridden and headed 3 out, weakened next, last of 5, well behind Smart Catch (11-0) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf in Nov.
Top Benefit (IRE) 22-1 (10-3) Led to 3rd, tracked leaders, lost place 4 out, weakened after next, left moderate 4th last, 4th of 9, 17l behind Bill The Lad (10-7) at Towcester 2m 3f hcp 0-100 (5) sft.
Rifleman (IRE) 15-2 (10-2) Tracked leaders, mistake 8th, effort after 3 out, ridden and one pace after next, no impression with front pair, 3rd of 7, 7l behind Waltzing Tornado (11-13) at Towcester 2m 6f am hcp ch 0-95 (5) gs in Nov.
