in touch, lost place 6th, weakened 4 out, tailed off
led, ridden and headed 3 out, chased winner until mistake and went badly right 2 out, soon lost 2nd, weakened and lost modest 4th towards finish
held up in close touch, headway to chase leading duo approaching 2 out, chased winner 2 out, ridden to challenge last, every chance flat, found no extra and held final 100 yards
raced on inside, held up tracking leaders, travelling well after 4 out, led on inside and hit 3 out, ridden and joined last, stayed on well under pressure to assert final 100 yards
chased leaders, outpaced under pressure after 3 out, rallied to well held 3rd 2 out, no chance with leading duo
chased leaders, lost place 6th, hit 8th, effort again under pressure before 3 out, weakened soon after 3 out, went modest 4th towards finish
started slowly, held up well in rear, not always fluent, lost touch before 4 out, tailed off and pulled up soon after
raced wide, held up in touch, weakened 4 out, tailed off
It's certainly not unknown for David Pipe to produce horses fit enough to themselves justice after a spell on the sidelines so market support for Choumakeur would have to be taken seriously. The nine-year-old won off this mark on soft ground at Worcester in July 2009. But there could be a change of fortune here for FILIPPO LIPPI, who has found one too good in his last three starts but was returning from a break at Warwick last month and should strip fitter here. Corlande was second in a claimer when put back over hurdles at Wetherby in November but more is needed here while The Ferbane Man looks vulnerable off this mark back over the smaller obstacles.
Tin Pot Man (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Hit 1st, always in rear, pulled up after 2 out, in a race won by Salpierre (11-10) at Hereford 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft, 13 ran.
Corlande (IRE) 13-2 (11-0) Led, headed and hit 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, soon beaten, 2nd of 4, 14l behind National Trust (11-1) at Wetherby 2m 6f 4yo clm hdl (5) sft in Nov.
The Ferbane Man (IRE) 14-1 (11-3) Held up in touch, under pressure 16th, weakened before 3 out, 6th of 14, 38l behind Minella Boys (11-4) at Plumpton 3m 5f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs.
Kaybeew 16-1 (11-11) Mid-division, ridden to chase leaders after 2 out, kept on same pace, 4th and no impression when fell last, in a race won by Prince Du Seuil (11-12) at Folkestone 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Dec, 17 ran.
Filippo Lippi (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) In touch on outside, challenged 3 out, ridden between last 2, 2 lengths down in 2nd when mistake last, kept on same pace, 2nd of 12, 2 1/4l behind The Red Laird (11-5) at Warwick 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Dec.
Choumakeur (FR) 13-8fav (12-0) Chased leader, led 3rd, headed approaching 3 out, weakened after next, 4th of 8, 11l behind River Ripples (11-4) at Stratford 2m 7f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Jul '09.
Stafford Charlie 6-1 (11-1) Held up towards rear, ridden in moderate 7th before 4 out, struggling after, never a factor, tailed off, 6th of 10, well behind Najca De Thaix (11-10) at Chepstow 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Nov.
Amazing Valour (IRE) 5-1 (10-13) Chased leaders, ridden 9th, beaten before 2 out, stepped at last, 4th of 7, 11l behind Orchard King (11-6) at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in Oct '09.
