held up, headway 11th, left 3rd 5 out, chased leaders, ridden 3 out, left moderate 2nd last
keen led, headed 6th, soon pushed along, dropped to rear 9th, pulled up before next
in rear, not fluent 2nd and 6th, headway 11th, left 2nd next, led soon after 3 out, pressed approaching last when fell
prominent, led 6th, fell 5 out
tracked leaders, left in lead 5 out, ridden 3 out, soon headed, outpaced after next, rallied to press leader last when left clear
close up, hampered when unseated rider 5 out
close up, tracked leader 11th, hampered and unseated rider next
held up, pushed along 9th, behind 11th, pulled up 3 out
It's a long way for Brian Ellison to send one from Yorkshire so the presence of SADDLERS DEAL is significant. Three times a winner over fences, he's been competing at a slightly higher level all winter and, though 8lb higher than his victory at Huntingdon, the drop in class can see him back in the winner's enclosure. Chris Bealby tries The Purchaser in first-time blinkers but they will need to have a significant impact to get him into contention while Jazz Man didn't look to be enjoying himself on his chasing debut at Huntingdon. Bob Will doesn't win often and is better handicapped over hurdles so Lord Fox, another in blinkers for the first time, could provide the main threat as he won this last year and looked on the way back to form at Huntingdon.
Saddlers Deal (IRE) 5-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, mistake 2nd, ridden 3 out, weakened next, 6th of 10, 12l behind Un Anjou (11-3) at Musselburgh 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Nov.
Unknown Legend (IRE) 11-1 (10-11) Mistake 1st, tracked leader, led 3rd, headed next, blundered and unseated rider 12th, in a race won by Vesperal Dream (11-11) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp chs 0-115 (4) fm in Oct, 4 ran.
Jazz Man (IRE) 12-1 (10-6) Close up, ridden and mistake 3 out, soon weakened and pulled up, in a race won by Catching On (11-1) at Huntingdon 3m nov hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Feb, 9 ran.
The Purchaser (IRE) 6-1 (11-7) Chased leading trio, went 3rd before 4th until 9th, 3rd again 12th, driven and struggling when lost remote 3rd 2 out, left 3rd at the last, 3rd of 5, 26l behind Midnight Charmer (11-9) at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp chs 0-100 (5) sft in Jan.
Lord Fox (IRE) 11-1 (10-13) Midfield, lost place 4th, pushed along 6th, not fluent next, headway 2 out, mistake last, never able to challenge, 4th of 7, 6l behind Bertenbar (10-9) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft.
That's The Deal (IRE) 20-1 (9-9) Chased leaders, lost place 6th, soon under pressure, behind from halfway, pulled up 11th, in a race won by Alanjou (10-10) at Fakenham 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Jan, 5 ran.
Bob Will (IRE) 7-1 (10-0) Held up mid-division, headway before 4 out, went 2nd before 3 out, kept on and always held, 2nd of 8, 8l behind Sitting Back (10-0) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp 0-100 (5) sft in Dec.
Peak Seasons (IRE) 33-1 (9-7) Hit first, held up, mistake 8th, ridden and outpaced 12th, 5th of 8, 32l behind Midnight Charmer (11-1) at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp 0-100 (5) gd in Oct.
