mid-division, weakened 12th, virtually pulled up flat
in rear, pulled up before 11th
held up, headway 5th, led approaching 11th, raced wide, ridden clear 3 out, pushed out
in touch, blundered badly and lost place 7th, pulled up before 11th
held up rear, mistake 10th, closer order 11th, ridden 3 out to chase leaders, weakened 2 out
towards rear, mistake 6th, ridden 7th, pulled up before 9th
tracked leader, weakened quickly 10th, pulled up before 11th
led and jumped right, clear 4th, headed after 10th, mistake 10th and 11th, weakened
in touch, ridden to chase winner from 11th, weakened 2 out
in touch, ridden to chase leaders 12th, mistake 13th, plugged on
Nonrunner
Milan Deux Mille can take this contest at the main expense of Running Hot and Nautic. Running Hot has chased home The Hardy Boy on his two most recent starts and it was no disgrace finishing second to the prolific winner. He can hit the frame. A novice hurdle winner at Towcester last May, Nautic has taken quite well to the bigger obstacles, judged by his good third at Kempton last time. He too can make a place. After some respectable efforts in defeat in good class races, Milan Deux Mille made no mistake at Newbury last time. he carries a seven pound penalty here, but he won with some authority that day, and with rising confidence, Milan Deux Mille can follow up.
Amadeus (AUS) 12-1 (11-5) With leader, weakened after 5th, 6th of 9, 30l behind Eastern Dagger (9-12) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl (5) sft in Dec.
It Happened Out (IRE) 66-1 (11-0) Mid-division, ridden approaching 3 out, kept on same pace, 6th of 21, 23l behind Climate Change (11-0) at Newbury 2m mdn hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Milan Deux Mille (FR) 9-2 (9-13) Jumped well, held up, smooth headway from 5th, led 3 out, soon clear, heavily eased run-in, won at Newbury 2m 2f hcp chs 0-120 (3) hvy beating Matthew Muroto (11-5) by 14l, 7 ran.
Thedreamstillalive (IRE) 7-2fav (11-2) Held up, headway 7th, went 2nd 3 out, ridden next, weakened last, 5th of 11, 11l behind Stars Delight (11-2) at Taunton 3m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft.
Spike Jones (NZ) 50-1 (11-4) In rear, ridden and staying on from 4 out, 3rd when slipped and unseated rider at the last in race won by Ice Bucket (11-4) at Hereford 2m 3f nov chs (4) sft in Dec, 10 ran.
Definite Approach (IRE) 33-1 (11-10) refused to race in race won by Lescer's Lad (11-0) at Folkestone 2m 5f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs, 11 ran.
Nautic (FR) 100-1 (10-0) Chased leaders in 4th, chased winner 12th until no impression when blundered 2 out, 3rd of 11, 24l behind Lady of Scarvagh (11-10) at Kempton 3m nov hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs.
Running Hot 11-4jt-fav (9-13) Led 2nd, headed 4 out, chased winner, rallied gamely flat, just failed, 2nd of 7, shd behind The Hardy Boy (10-9) at Plumpton 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft.
Major Belle (FR) 16-1 (10-6) In rear, well behind from 6th, 9th of 10, 46l behind Ground Breaker (11-1) at Huntingdon 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Dec.
Alfadora 12-1 (9-9) Tracked leaders, mistake 7th, soon pushed along, chased winner 3 out, blundered badly and weakened last, 3rd of 6, 9l behind Beau Torero (10-12) at Fakenham 2m nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs.
Phareight Dei (IRE) 11-4fav (10-3) Prominent, led 5th, ridden approaching 3 out, ran on gamely from 2 out, driven out, won at Exeter 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) hvy beating Georges Boy (10-12) by 1 1/2l, 10 ran.
