held up mid-division, weakened before 4 out
made all, clear before and blundered 4 out, driven out
pushed along towards rear, pulled up before 8th
chased clear leading pair, went 2nd before and mistake 3 out, ridden before 2 out, stayed on towards finish
towards rear, outpaced before 6 out, headway before 4 out, kept on to take 3rd place run-in
pushed along to chase leaders early, soon behind and tailed off
held up in rear, headway before 5 out, ridden 3 out, soon weakened
chased winner until before 3 out, no extra and lost 3rd place run-in
Nonrunner
Mission Complete remains out of sorts and McCoy takes over the reins on ARCTIC BEN. The latter went close at Uttoxeter on his penultimate start and should be in the firing-line again with a similar effort. My Idea also has claims on his second at Ayr last time and Vinny Gambini can also get involved after finishing fourth at Newcastle last time. Spanish Arch is not badly weighted back over fences and Ballybogey is yet another to consider off his current mark.
Smadynium (FR) 14-1 (11-5) Mid-division in touch, chased leaders when blundered 4 out, outpaced next, soon ridden and weakened, tailed off, 5th of 13, well behind The Young Master (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m 1f am hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Oct.
Arctic Ben (IRE) 9-4fav (11-12) Tracked leader, led 2nd, fell 4 out, in a race won by Bernardelli (11-12) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Dec, 7 ran.
Spanish Arch (IRE) 25-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, weakened from 4 out, 4th of 7, 34l behind Rascal (10-12) at Southwell 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gs in Dec.
Ballybogey (IRE) 8-1 (11-7) Led, rider lost irons when blundered 7th, headed approaching 3 out, rallied next, soon hung right, kept on same pace approaching last, 2nd of 7, 6l behind Chestnut Ben (11-5) at Market Rasen 2m 2f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs in Dec.
Vinny Gambini (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Mid-division, outpaced 6 out, left 4th from last, plugged on, 4th of 8, 7l behind Trust Thomas (10-9) at Newcastle 2m nov hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Nov.
Mission Complete (IRE) 50-1 (11-6) Prominent, ridden after 9th, lost place 10th, behind 13th, 9th of 11, well behind The Ould Lad (11-10) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs in Nov.
My Idea 10-3 (11-3) Tracked winner, not fluent 2nd, mistake 6th, ridden before 3 out, no impression, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 5, 9l behind Wilde Pastures (11-5) at Ayr 2m hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs in Oct.
Free World (FR) 5-1 (10-5) Led, mostly clear until before 10th, headed 2 out, one pace last, 2nd of 4, 21l behind Mister Grez (11-5) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Dec.
Gus Macrae (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Tracked leader until 7th, soon in rear, ridden 10th, pulled up 2 out, in a race won by Perfect Candidate (11-7) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Nov, 5 ran.
