held up towards rear, mistake 4th, headway approaching next, not fluent 2 out, weakened before last
tracked leaders, jumped left and bumped 1st, lost place before next, behind from 4th, tailed off
held up in mid-division, lost place and pulled up before 4th
made virtually all, shaken up before last, ridden flat, just held on
held up in touch in mid-division, took keen hold, headway 5th, driven after 2 out, mistake last, edged right and no extra final 100 yards
held up, headway when mistake and lost place 3rd, headway after 2 out, stayed on flat, closing near finish
prominent, bumped 1st, weakened after 5th, tailed off
tracked leaders, hampered 1st, ridden and weakened after 2 out
in touch in mid-division, lost place before 3rd, weakened 5th, tailed off
prominent, hampered 1st, mistake and lost place 4th, pulled up after
tracked leaders, went 2nd 3rd, ridden approaching last, stayed on flat, just held
Nonrunner
Gate Please and Phone Home are the only two of these to have achieved a handicap rating but they are thoroughly exposed. Ashford Wood has been struggling for pace in bumpers so this longer trip might help while Grey Earl showed promise at Towcester and Ossie's Dancer was third at Southwell. Monkey Kingdom has won a couple of bumpers but has had his problems since running in a Grade 2 at Aintree in April last year. Queen's Star was a stayer on the Flat and will know more after a debut sixth at Fontwell but we'll give another chance to EASTERN WITNESS who may have gone off too quickly on very heavy going at Ludlow last time.
Almost Gemini (IRE) 7-1 (9-2) Held up in rear, ridden over 3f out, no real progress until stayed on inside final furlong, went 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 9, 6l behind Secret Edge (9-2) at Newbury 2m app hcp (5) sft in Oct (flat).
Driving Well (IRE) 50-1 (11-0) Mid-division, pushed along 4 out, soon weakened and pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Copper Birch (11-0) at Ffos Las 3m mdn hdl (4) hvy, 10 ran.
Eastern Witness (IRE) 3-1 (11-4) Led, joined 4 out, driven and headed before next, weakened and lost moderate 3rd last, 4th of 6, 47l behind Ampleforth (11-4) at Ludlow 2m 5f mdn hdl (4) hvy.
Grey Earl 66-1 (11-4) Held up behind, headway before 2 out, left 3rd last, one pace, 3rd of 11, 9l behind Pink Gin (11-4) at Towcester 2m mdn hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
Monkey Kingdom 16-1 (11-4) In touch, ridden and weakened before 3f out, 13th of 19, 43l behind Killyglass (11-4) at Aintree 2m 1f nat hunt flat Grade 2 (1) gs in Apr.
Ossie's Dancer 100-1 (10-12) Held up behind, headway 3 out, chased leading pair approaching next, kept on same pace, no impression in clear 3rd between last 2, 3rd of 9, 9l behind Anay Turge (10-12) at Southwell 2m nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
Phone Home (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Mistake 1st, headway to 4th with circuit to go, driven and weakened bypassing omitted 3 out, tailed off in 4th when blundered 2 out, pulled up before last, in a race won by Milosam (10-1) at Taunton 2m 7f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) hvy in Dec, 8 ran.
Romany Quest 100-1 (10-7) Held up in touch, went 5th before 2 out, weakened before last, 5th of 15, 26l behind Royal Player (11-0) at Exeter 2m 5f mdn hdl (5) sft in Jan.
The Bogman's Ball 8-1 (12-0) In tch til wknd 4 out; to, 6th of 11, 45l behind Port Melon (11-7) at Berkeley 3m ptp gs in Apr.
Cloudy Smith Cloudings mare out of Poppy Smith.
Morebutwhen 25-1 (10-9) Led, headed over 3f out, soon lost place, weakened 2f out, 7th of 8, 23l behind Tara Road (10-11) at Chepstow 2m NH flat (6) gs in Dec.
Queen's Star 33-1 (10-10) Mid-division, ridden 4 out, soon beaten, 6th of 13, 34l behind My Miss Lucy (10-10) at Fontwell 2m 4f mrs nov hdl (4) gs in Dec.
Ashford Wood (IRE) 2-1fav (11-4) Mid-division, headway before 4f out, ridden over 2f out, plugged on to take 3rd inside final furlong, 3rd of 11, 14l behind Foryourinformation (10-13) at Ffos Las 2m NH flat (6) hvy.
Gate Please (IRE) 6-1 (10-12) Led, headed after 2nd, chased leader, led 3 out, soon headed, weakened from 2 out, 4th of 9, 29l behind Horatio Hornblower (11-3) at Ffos Las 2m nh nov hdl (4) hvy.
