soon with leader, pushed along before 5th, weakened before 4 out, tailed off
tracked leaders and keen, led before 3 out, ridden and headed before next, blundered last, kept on, no chance with winner
in rear, ridden and headway before 2 out, went remote 3rd last, never dangerous
held up mid-division and keen, headway before 5th, not fluent 3 out, weakened from 2 out
held up mid-division, headway before 4 out, challenged on bit 3 out, led before next, shaken up before last, stayed on strongly
held up towards rear, effort before 3 out, weakening when not fluent 2 out
led, ridden and headed before 3 out, weakened before next
towards rear, reminders before 4 out, weakened from 3 out, soon pulled up
Pulled-up in the Grand annual at Cheltenham on his latest start, FIENDISH FLAME gets the vote back over the smaller obstacles. He had a subsequent winner back in fourth when third over hurdles at Market Rasen in February and is just preferred to stablemate Drill Sergeant, who also has claims with a conditional taking 7lb off his back. Recent winners Tharaya and Knight In Purple have both been raised 10lb and will need to improve again, while Royal Max is 5lb higher in the weights after his win at Wetherby in October and is facing a tougher task on his return to action.
Fiendish Flame (IRE) 28-1 (11-4) Jumped right, led 1st to 5th, chased leader, lost place 8th, weakened 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Oiseau de Nuit (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Mar, 23 ran.
Drill Sergeant 40-1 (11-4) In touch in mid-division, pushed along after 8th, closed on inside before 3 out, one pace from next, 4th and beaten last, 4th of 9, 22l behind Spirit Son (11-4) at Aintree 2m 4f nov hdl G2 (1) gd.
Maoi Chinn Tire (IRE) 100-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, mistake 5th, not fluent next, some headway and went 5th approaching 3 out, no chance with leaders, left remote 4th 2 out, went left last, 4th of 9, 39l behind Zarkandar (11-0) at Aintree 2m 4yo hdl Grade 1 (1) gs.
Tharaya 28-1 (11-5) Mid-division, headway 6th, went 2nd approaching 3 out, led next, clear last, ran on well, won at Uttoxeter 2m nov hcp 0-115 (4) gs in Mar beating Beau Lake (11-6) by 9l, 11 ran.
Knight In Purple 15-2 (11-2) Chased leaders, hit 4th, went 2nd 4 out, led approaching 3 out, clear 2 out, easily, won at Chepstow 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd beating Spinning Waters (10-6) by 6l, 9 ran.
Dominican Monk (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, headway on outside 4f out, pushed along 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 7th of 12, 9l behind Free World (11-0) at Kempton 2m n h flat (4) std in Dec.
Royal Max (IRE) 13-2 (10-7) Made all, took keen hold and clear until 2nd, ridden approaching and not fluent last, held on well, won at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Oct beating Amir Pasha (10-1) by 1 1/4l, 11 ran.
Crosby Jemma 14-1 (10-11) Held up towards rear, hit 4 out, chased leaders next, weakened 2 out, 5th of 9, 18l behind Blue Nymph (11-5) at Doncaster 2m mares hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Mar.
