tracked leader, led 4th, headed 6th, led again 5 out, strongly challenged 2 out, forged clear last, stayed on well
chased leaders, led 6th, hit 10th and 11th, headed 5 out, weakened approaching 2 out
led until 4th, chased leades, hard ridden to challenge 2 out, weakened last
held up in rear, mistake 1st, headway to chase leaders 3rd, lost place 6th, soon behind, pulled up 3 out
held up in rear, hampered 10th, soon behind, pulled up 3 out
held up in rear when fell 10th
held up in touch, under pressure 9th, hampered next, weakened before 5 out, moderate 4th
After 20 attempts, Safe Investment is still a maiden over fences and it says much about this contest that he's likely to be one of the market leaders today. Dot Or Feather won over hurdles at Wetherby in the autumn, however, and has already been successful in a point-to-point. He could go close on his first start over regulation fences while Frameit arguably has more scope than most. CHEVY TO THE LEVY has gone well fresh in the past and, though pulled up when last seen in September, is taken to get the better of some very modest opposition today.
Dot Or Feather (IRE) 7-2 (10-12) Prominent, in lead before 8th, 4th and weakening approaching 2 out, 7th of 12, 30l behind Valid Point (11-10) at Towcester 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Nov.
Chevy To The Levy (IRE) 8-1 (11-3) Tracked leading pair, went 2nd 4th, lost place after 4 out, weakened next, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Ballagio (10-13) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gf in Sep, 5 ran.
Safe Investment (USA) 4-1 (10-13) Mid-division, outpaced when blundered 12th, kept on under pressure from 2 out, never on terms, 5th of 12, 22l behind Ballyegan (11-6) at Towcester 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Dec.
Frameit (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Mid-division, ridden 10th, weakened next, pulled up last, in a race won by Abnaki (11-12) at Fakenham 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Dec, 11 ran.
Captain Smoothy 50-1 (10-11) Held up in 4th, not fluent 8th and 9th, pushed along 4 out, soon weakened, moderate 3rd, 3rd of 4, well behind Joker Choker (11-2) at Leicester 2m 4f beg chs (4) fm in Dec.
Chapel House 6-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, went 2nd approaching 3 out until before 2 out, no extra when mistake last, 4th of 11, 9l behind Diamanpeg (11-2) at Stratford 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gf in Aug.
Feeling Peckish (USA) 11-1 (9-7) Mid-division, weakened before 9th, 6th of 11, 34l behind On Gossamer Wings (10-13) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Nov.
