tracked leader, pushed along and lost place after 10th, blundered next, passed beaten horses after 3 out, left 2nd last, no chance with winner on run-in
led to 5 out, ridden after next, weakened 3 out, in 2nd and beat when quickly pulled up before last
tracked leaders and not fluent throughout, pushed along approaching 13th, weakened from 3 out
held up, hit 14th and next, weakened approaching 3 out
held up in touch, joined leader 4th, led 5 out, clear approaching 3 out, stayed on well
Nonrunner
In the feature race on the card, Kingscliff gets the call ahead of Lord Transcend. Kingscliff returns to the scene of his impressive Lancashire Chase win in November and, if in that sort of mood following a poor run in The King George, he is, quite clearly, they all have to beat. On pure handicapping terms, last season's Peter Marsh Chase winner, Lord Transcend, rates a danger, and that is fair enough because he has plenty of ability, as his fourth in a very good renewal of last season's Hennessy Gold Cup can testify. Truckers Tavern, who is not the force of old, has plenty to find based on the Peter Marsh run referred to, and the others are set to race from well out of the weights so, barring mishaps, Kingscliff gets the call, but Lord Transcend is very much respected.
Kingscliff (IRE) 10-3 (11-10) Tracked leaders, blundered 10th, never going well after pulled up 2 out in race won by Kicking King (11-10) at Sandown 3m chs Grd 1 (A) gd in Dec, 9 ran.
Lord Transcend (IRE) 2-1fav (11-12) Led, hit 9th, headed 3 out, weakened approaching last, 2nd of 8, 20l behind Captain Corelli (9-9) at Haydock 3m hcp chs (B) sft in Dec.
Truckers Tavern (IRE) 9-2 (10-1) Led to after 5th, with leader, lost place 5 out, weakened next pulled up at the last in race won by Therealbandit (9-10) at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp chs Grd 3 (A) sft in Dec, 10 ran.
Kandjar d'Allier (FR) 13-2 (10-11) In touch, ridden and weakened 4 out, 8th of 13, 28l behind Fondmort (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f lst hcp chs (1) gs.
Ebony Light (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) Held up in touch, close 3rd when fell at the 11th in race won by Kerry Lads (11-6) at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft, 9 ran.
Patricksnineteenth (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Prominent, led 6th, headed 8th, ridden from 4 out, weakened 2 out, 3rd of 13, 4 1/2l behind Lord Maizey (10-13) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs 0-135 (C) gs in Dec.