jumped slowly throughout, in rear but in touch, struggling 10th, behind when pulled up after 2 out
raced keenly tracking leader, led 6th, headed 8th, mistake next, soon lost place, rallied 4 out, tracked leader next, weakened after 2 out, left in remote 4th at last
held up in rear but in touch, headway 12th, chased leaders 3 out, led after next, stayed on strongly
led until 3rd, led again 9th, headed 12th, mistake 4 out, soon lost place, rallying and staying on for 3rd when fell last
tracked leader, slow 2nd, soon in touch, headway to track leaders 9th, led 12th, headed after 2nd last, kept on well under pressure
tracked leader, led 3rd, reminders next, headed 6th, led again 8th, heded next, weakened 3 out, left in remote 3rd at last
Nonrunner
Runner-up at both Towcester and Chepstow in November, Flying Squad will probably never get a better chance to break his duck under NH Rules, though probably isn't one to stake the mortgage on. Kilvergan Boy has never really looked happy over fences but can't be ignored in a race of this nature and looks a better bet than Oponce, who weakened quickly at Plumpton last month. Muntami has rather lost his way but FEELING PECKISH comes here in good nick having finished third in a jumpers' bumper at Southwell earlier in the week. Only 3lb higher than when successful at Ludlow in October, he looks the most likely winner.
Muntami (IRE) 100-1 (10-8) Held up in last pair, ridden and weakened after 8th, tailed off, last of 5, well behind William's Wishes (11-7) at Leicester 2m nov chs (3) gd in Nov.
Investment Affair (IRE) 5-4fav (11-12) Held up towards rear, not fluent, ridden 4 out, kept on same pace from next, 3rd of 9, 11l behind Rathmulen (11-4) at Southwell 2m 1f 5yo nov hcp (4) gd in May '08.
Flying Squad (UAE) 9-4fav (11-7) Held up, good headway to chase winner on inside 5 out, hit 2 out, kept on towards finish, always held, 2nd of 5, 1/2l behind Manmoon (11-11) at Chepstow 2m 3f cnd hcp chs (0-95) (5) sft in Nov.
Captain Smoothy 85-40fav (10-7) Held up, slightly hampered 3rd, reminder after 5th, behind and struggling 10th, jumped right 12th, jumped right and mistake next, soon pulled up, in a race won by Backfromthecongo (11-9) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Nov, 7 ran.
Oponce (FR) 20-1 (11-8) Held up in touch, under pressure 4 out, soon lost place, weakening when mistake 2 out, 8th of 11, 35l behind Marias Rock (11-0) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp 0-90 (5) gs in Dec.
Feeling Peckish (USA) 250-1 (11-0) Mid-division, headway over 8f out, ridden 4f out, soon outpaced, stayed on from over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, 3rd of 11, 4l behind Palomar (11-0) at Southwell 2m Nat Hunt Flat (5yo+) (AWT) (4) std in Dec.
Kilvergan Boy (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Tracked leader, ridden approaching 3 out, soon outpaced, 8th of 18, 37l behind Pocketwood (11-9) at Exeter 2m 5f 4yo Am hcp 0-100 (4) gs in Dec.
