chased leaders, lost place 9th, lost touch after 11th, soon tailed off and pulled up
in touch, led after 1st, headed 8th, lost place 9th, soon behind, tailed off
behind, mistake 2nd, headway 12th, driven 3 out, challenged next, ridden last, switched left and stayed on to lead narrowly flat, headed post
tracked leaders, lost place 14th, weakened 3 out
led to 1st, tracked leaders, went 2nd 12th, led narrowly before 2 out, soon hard pressed, ridden and headed narrowly flat, rallied to regain lead post
chased leaders, dropped rear and reminders 9th, some headway under pressure when blundered 14th, weakened 3 out
towards rear, headway and in touch on outside 2nd, ridden and outpaced approaching 2 out, soon no impression
held up behind, headway and in touch 6th, led 8th, blundered 11th, ridden and headed before 2 out, 3rd and beaten when blundered last, weakened flat
chased leaders, dropped rear when hit 6th, struggling 11th, tailed off
led briefly after 1st, tracked leaders, dropped towards rear 6th, headway under pressure 12th, stayed on to go 3rd flat, no chance with leading pair
RATE OF KNOTS looked to be on the way back when third at Towcester last time and the mare is well handicapped nowadays. With AP McCoy back in the saddle, she can reverse that form with runner-up Mr Big and end her barren spell. Son Histoire has been eased a little in the handicap but doesn't win as often as he should though the six-year-old still makes more appeal than Double The Trouble, who was well beaten at Fontwell last time and looks high enough in the weights now. Arnold Layne normally runs well here and is ridiculously well treated on his best form but recent efforts suggest he is nowhere near the force of old.
Evella (IRE) 9-2 (11-9) Led, jumped left from 8th, headed 11th, weakened 4 out, pulled up before next, in a race won by Take It There (11-5) at Hereford 2m 5f mares hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Nov, 7 ran.
Freeze Up (IRE) 5-2fav (11-9) Behind, jumped slowly 6th, soon switched outside, headway and in touch 12th, mistakes 13 and next, behind when blundered 4 out, pulled up before next, in a race won by Phoenix Des Mottes (9-7) at Southwell 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Mar, 9 ran.
Rate of Knots (IRE) 15-2 (10-8) Held up towards rear, headway after 12th, hampered 4 out, no impression 2 out, went 3rd flat, 3rd of 12, 12l behind Bobby Gee (11-0) at Towcester 2m 6f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft.
Rapid Increase (IRE) 9-4fav (11-9) Held up towards rear, headway 9th, reminders next, chased leaders before 12th, weakened approaching 2out, 3rd of 8, 32l behind Back Exit (11-4) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Apr.
Mr Big (IRE) 13-2 (10-5) Led until 2nd, tracked leaders, every chance approaching 2 out, one pace last, 2nd of 12, 7l behind Bobby Gee (11-0) at Towcester 2m 6f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft.
Son Histoire (FR) 13-2 (10-6) Held up towards rear, headway 10th, chased leaders next, 3rd after 16th, weakened from 3 out, 6th of 11, 16l behind Sarde (11-2) at Newbury 3m 2f am hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Nov.
Whatever Next (IRE) 66-1 (10-11) Led, headed over 10f out, prominent until ridden and lost place over 3f out, 8th of 12, 12l behind Free World (11-0) at Kempton 2m Nat Hunt Flat (5yo+) (AWT) (4) std.
Double The Trouble 12-1 (11-8) Mostly chased winner until 8th, stayed chasing leaders, weakened to 4th when hit 4 out, weakened to 5th 3 out, tailed off, 5th of 7, 49l behind Ere Alfie (10-3) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Nov.
Antonius Caesar (FR) 5-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, weakened after 4 out, 10th of 14, well behind Star Beat (10-11) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd.
Arnold Layne (IRE) 6-1 (11-3) Held up in touch, chased leaders 9th, hard ridden 2 out, never on terms, 5th of 12, 11l behind Rey Nacarado (11-6) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs.
