held up in touch, headway tracking leaders after 3rd, blundered and lost place next, rallied 5th, pushed along before 10th, weakened next, soon behind, no chance when blundered 2 out and pulled up
raced wide chasing leaders, went 2nd before 10th, ridden before 4 out, lost 2nd before next, soon one pace, rallied into 2nd again before the last, no impression
tracked leaders on inside, weakening when blundered 3 out
tended to jump left, raced freely, led and soon clear, went left 5th, fiddled 9th, mistake 4 out, went left and headed 2 out, lost 2nd before went left again last, not run on
chased clear leader until before 10th, chased leaders, under pressure after 11th, ridden after 3 out, weakened before next
chased leaders, mistake and lost place 6th, behind and reminders next, tailed off when went badly left and blundered 10th, pulled up before next
held up and behind, steady headway approaching 10th, chasing leaders next, 2nd before 3 out, led 2 out, soon clear, stayed on well
Opening Batsman turned in a shocker over 3m here last time and this looks much too short. Royal Native and Five Star Wilsham also need further but Last Shot is much better over 2m. Ultragold won a small race at Exeter last month but was soon beaten next time on heavy ground at Chepstow. Conditions won't be a problem for the hat-trick seeking TRICKAWAY (NAP) and he can win again. He's gone up another 5lb since scoring at Exeter but won easily over the course and distance earlier and still gets 6lb from the consistent Like Minded, who doesn't have the same scope for improvement.
Like Minded 2-1 (11-12) Led narrowly, 3 lengths clear when hit 2 out, ridden and hard pressed when edged right between last 2, kept on under pressure flat, headed final stride, 2nd of 4, hd behind Rocky Bender (10-6) at Bangor 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in Dec.
Opening Batsman (IRE) 11-4fav (11-6) Mid-division on outside, lost place 14th, soon struggling, behind 5 out, tailed off, 5th of 10, well behind Royal Player (11-1) at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-140 (3) gs in Dec.
Ultragold (FR) 4-1 (10-5) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 7th until before 5 out, well held 4th from 2 out, mistake last, 4th of 10, 24l behind Quincy Des Pictons (10-8) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs (2) hvy in Dec.
Trickaway (IRE) 3-1fav (11-12) Raced keenly, made all, 1 length ahead last, slightly hampered by loose horse 100 yards out, kept on well, won at Exeter 2m 3f hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Dec beating Sun Wild Life (11-7) by 2l, 7 ran.
Last Shot (FR) 6-1 (10-11) Held up last, headway into 4th approaching 8th, outpaced before 2 out, kept on flat, 4th of 6, 10l behind Ballygarvey (11-7) at Ascot 2m 1f hcp chs 0-140 (3) gs in Dec.
Royal Native (IRE) 9-2 (11-8) With winner until ridden between 4 out and 3 out, kept on same pace, 4th of 6, 20l behind Royal Palladium (11-0) at Market Rasen 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Dec.
Five Star Wilsham (IRE) 10-1 (10-6) Mid-division, dropped to last pair 11th, smooth headway to track leaders 5 out, outpaced next, ridden and no impression in 4th from 3 out, 4th of 10, 25l behind Royal Player (11-1) at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-140 (3) gs in Dec.
