held up in mid-division, headway chasing leaders 4th, led 2 out, kept on well run-in
towards rear, went left and unseated rider 2nd
raced keenly, tracked leaders, tracked leader 3rd until 3 out, chased leaders, 4th and no impression when mistake last, weakened run-in
mid-division, weakening when went right 6th,went right again and mistake next, tailed off
raced keenly in last pair, rapid headway to lead after 4th, headed after 3 out, weakened quickly
held up towards rear, not fluent 5th and next, steady headway after 3 out, chased leaders next, weakened between last 2
keen in rear, headway approaching 2 out, kept on into never nearer 4th run-in
towards rear, mistake and reminders 4th, tailed off
chased leader until 3rd, remained handy, 2nd again 3 out, led soon after, headed next, chased winner until approaching last, kept on same pace in 3rd
raced keenly, led until after 4th, remained handy, went 2nd approaching last, kept on under pressure run-in
chased leaders, lost place and struggling before 4th, tailed off
Dan Skelton is mob-handed in this opener with jockey bookings suggesting Anytime Will Do is the pick of his quartet. His Uttoxeter victory was franked when the runner-up went one better at Wincanton on Sunday but the five-year-old faces no easy task under a penalty. Chambard was a Grade 1 bumper winner in France but that was back in 2016 and he might need this. His trainer also runs Inheritance Thief while Cervaro Mix was runner-up to a subsequent hurdles winner at Fontwell earlier this month. Cracking Destiny has shown some ability and Grey Diamond won a Ffos Las bumper in May. Fledgling trainer Jane Williams has had just the one winner so far but MOONLIGHTER could double her tally. He impressed in a bumper here last season and then ran sixth in a Listed contest at Newbury which has worked out well – the Midnight Legend gelding has a cracking pedigree for jumping.
Anytime Will Do (IRE) 4-5fav (11-0) Tracked leaders, travelling well when mistake 2 out, led approaching last, quickened clear, easily, won at Uttoxeter 2m mdn (4) gd in Oct beating Foxtrot Juliet (10-7) by 4 1/2l, 10 ran.
Barley Hill (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway and close up on outside 3 out, outpaced before next, soon weakened, 6th of 12, 34 1/4l behind Denmead (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m (4) gd in Oct.
Cervaro Mix (FR) 8-1 (11-0) Held up on inside, steady progress 6f out, ridden and chased winner final 2f, no impression, 2nd of 9, 4l behind Earth Moor (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 2f (5) gs in Oct.
Chambard (FR) (10-5) 2nd of 8, nk behind Cut The Mustard (9-11) at Nantes 1m 4f sft in Nov.
Cracking Destiny (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Took keen hold, held up off the pace in 4th, left 3rd 4 out, outpaced next, soon weakened, baulked 2 out then lost 3rd, 5th of 6, dist behind Shantaluze (11-0) at Bangor 2m 1f mdn (5) gd in Oct.
Flight Deck (IRE) Getaway gelding out of Rate Of Knots.
Grey Diamond (FR) 7-2 (10-12) In rear and pulled hard, headway over 2f out, kept on to lead towards finish, won at Ffos Las 2m (5) gd in May beating Hillary C (10-9) by 1 1/2l, 11 ran.
Inheritance Thief 4-1 (11-0) Prominent, lost place over 7f out, 11th of 13, 25 1/4l behind Northern Soul (11-0) at Market Rasen 2m 1f (5) gd in Apr.
Moonlighter 7-1 (11-3) Raced keenly, chased leaders, ridden 3f out, weakened soon after, 6th of 10, 30l behind Acey Milan (10-11) at Newbury 2m lst (1) sft in Feb.
My Mate Mark 50-1 (10-11) Led, headed over 3f out, soon behind, tailed off, 19th of 22, dist behind Fayonagh (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m (1) gs in Mar.
No Getaway (IRE) 10-1 (11-0) Behind, headway 3 out, chased leaders next, no impression, 4th of 10, 13 3/4l behind Anytime Will Do (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m mdn (4) gd in Oct.
Realms Of Fire 20-1 (10-12) Last pair, ridden and struggling in rear after 4 out, tailed off, last of 8, dist behind Val Mome (10-12) at Bangor 2m 1f (4) gd in Oct.
Up The Drive (IRE) 66-1 (11-0) Prominent, lost place after 4 out, last of 10, dist behind Anytime Will Do (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m mdn (4) gd in Oct.
General Brook (IRE) 25-1 (8-13) Chased leaders, lost place over 3f out, last of 13, 28 1/4l behind Xinbama (8-2) at Bath 1m 6f hcp (2) fm in Sep.
