held up, headway 8th, chased leaders after next, 3rd 12th, hit 4 out, 2nd before went badly left next, hung left and went left 2 out, rallied and not fluent last, every chance run-in, held near finish
chased leaders, pushed along when mistake and lost place 12th, poor 4th when mistake and unseated rider 2 out
always prominent, chased leader 5th, led 11th, ridden between last two, pressed when not fluent last, driven and stayed on gamely run-in
jumped right, soon led, headed 11th, lost 2nd next, driven along in 4th after, struggling in 6th 4 out, left poor 4th and blundered 2 out, went remote 3rd near finish
chased leaders, reminder after 3rd and lost place, blundered 5th and 7th, tailed off and pulled up after next
chased leaders, went left and mistake 6th, weakened approaching 11th, tailing off when pulled up after next
held up and behind, struggling before 11th, driven along in well held 5th before 3 out
hit 1st, behind, headway tracking leaders 8th, went prominent 10th, 2nd 12th, pushed along and hit 4 out, lost 2nd when mistake 3 out, chased leading pair, tired when lost remote 3rd near finish
KAPRICORNE won three times over hurdles in the autumn, including twice here. He's too high in the handicap over hurdles now so the switch to fences has rather been forced upon Sophie Leech but he could win this if his jumping holds up. Candide had Beaujolais Bob and Louis Phillipe behind when second at Taunton on his fencing bow and looks the danger with Doncaster third Expanding Universe tackling 3m for the first time. Winning pointer Macetown Gale has shown nothing so far under Rules.
Candide (IRE) 9-2 (11-9) Tracked winner, reminder 12th, ridden and effort 3 out, kept on same pace, no chance from next, 2nd of 10, 9l behind Castarnie (10-12) at Taunton 2m 7f 5yo nov hcp (4) hvy in Jan.
Kapricorne (FR) 7-2 (11-6) Tracked leaders on inside, lost place 5th, in touch 7th, not fluent 3 out, soon weakened, 4th of 7, well behind Bouggietopieces (10-7) at Towcester 2m 5f nov hcap hdle (4) gs in Dec.
Expanding Universe (IRE) 11-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, blundered 8th, soon struggling and behind, stayed on to take modest 3rd towards finish, no chance with front pair, 3rd of 8, 15l behind Ergo Sum (11-4) at Doncaster 2m 3f 5yo nov hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Comical Red 17-2 (10-13) Not fluent, behind, mistake 7th, reminders after 9th, soon lost touch, tailed off when pulled up before 13th, in a race won by Castarnie (10-12) at Taunton 2m 7f 5yo nov hcp (4) hvy in Jan, 10 ran.
Brave Encounter (IRE) 12-1 (10-5) Mid-division, hit 6th, reminders and struggling towards rear after 12th, no chance when slight peck 3 out, pulled up after next, in a race won by Kings Apollo (10-9) at Taunton 3m 2f 5yo nov hcp (4) sft, 12 ran.
Louis Phillipe (IRE) 12-1 (10-3) Mid-division, outpaced when jumped left from 13th, weakened 4 out, tailed off, 5th of 10, well behind Castarnie (10-12) at Taunton 2m 7f 5yo nov hcp (4) hvy in Jan.
Macetown Gale (IRE) 12-1 (10-6) Held up towards rear, ridden and no impression 4 out, kept on one pace from before straight, 7th of 18, 48l behind Zipporah (11-2) at Thurles 2m 6f hcp hdl 80-102 in Jan.
Beaujolais Bob 25-1 (10-2) Chased leader until 3rd, chased leaders, ridden in 4th after 3 out, struggling in 5th before next, 5th of 11, 19l behind The Geegeez Geegee (11-12) at Taunton 3m hcp hdl 0-100 (5) sft.
