held up in last pair, headway approaching 6th, tracked leading pair 8th, 2nd before 5 out, led going well approaching 4 out, in command from 2 out, never came off the bridle
held up in last pair, headway approaching 6th, 2nd 8th, led approaching 5 out until approaching next, chased winner in vain and no chance from 2 out
not fluent 1st, chased leading pair, went 2nd 5th, not fluent 7th, lost 2nd next, weakened 9th, struggling in rear 11th, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
tracked leading trio until dropped to last pair 5th, 4th when blundered 11th, 4th and beaten when pulled up before 3 out
led and soon clear, headed approaching 5 out and dropped to 3rd, soon no chance with leading duo, plugged on
tracked clear leader until 5th, chased leading pair until weakened before 9th, struggling in last pair 11th, left distant 4th 3 out, well tailed off
Nonrunner
Come On Annie has been pulled up in two of her previous three starts over fences and was tailed off in the other but Eastern Witness is a winning pointer and should be capable of better. Head Spinner and Ball Hopper are pretty much exposed but the former is usually thereabouts and Seamus Mullins' charge will be popular again here. STRANGE BIRD (NAP) was in front and still travelling well when falling at Lingfield last time having won at that track previously. She's jumping fences late in life but has an aptitude for the new challenge and will take some stopping here with a clear round.
Come On Annie 9-2 (10-10) Held up in rear, jumped slowly 7th, pulled up before next, in a race won by Un Anjou (11-7) at Taunton 2m hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Dec, 6 ran.
Long John 7-1 (11-9) Held up in mid-division, badly hampered and unseated rider 7th, in a race won by Magical Man (10-0) at Ffos Las 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Dec, 11 ran.
Head Spin (IRE) 2-1fav (11-8) Prominent, led 15th hit 4 out, headed next, no impression on winner flat, lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 8, 2 1/2l behind Bang On Time (11-7) at Wincanton 3m 1f 5yo nov hcp (4) hvy.
Strange Bird (IRE) 7-2 (11-3) Prominent, led 3rd, headed after 6th, led again 8th, headed approaching 10th, led again 5 out, fell next, in a race won by Leith Hill Legasi (10-7) at Lingfield 3m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) hvy in Dec, 7 ran.
Eastern Witness (IRE) 8-1 (11-5) Led until 2nd, led 3rd, headed and weakened after 3 out, 5th of 7, 45l behind Bally Braes (11-0) at Bangor 3m 5yo nov hcp (4) sft.
Ball Hopper (IRE) 6-1 (10-5) In touch, joined leader after 4th, left in narrow lead 7th, headed next, lost place after 3 out, no impression before next, plugged on to take modest 2nd near finish, no chance with easy winner, 2nd of 8, 13l behind Wicklewood (11-2) at Towcester 2m 3f hcp 0-100 (5) sft in Dec.
Carhue (IRE) 33-1 (9-3) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, pushed along and no extra after 4 out, weakened, 11th of 12, well behind Fosters Cross (10-10) at Thurles 2m hcp hdl hvy in Dec.
