mid-division, headway after 4th, went 2nd when not fluent 3 out, every chance last, one pace flat, lost 2nd close home
led 1st until after 4th, weakened approaching 3 out
tracked leaders, led after 4th, jumped left 2 out, soon ridden, went left again last, driven out
held up, headway after 4th, hit 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, blundered last
led until 1st, prominent, not fluent 4th, lost place when hit 3 out
held up in rear, hampered 4th, headway under pressure after 3 out, went 3rd 2 out, stayed on well, went 2nd close home
held up in touch, hit 3rd, outpaced when hit 3 out, rallied approaching 2 out, soon no further progress, mistake last
held up towards rear, headway on outside 4th, challenging when fell next
held up towards rear, headway after 5th, soon ridden, 5th when pulled up on bend before 2 out
tracked leaders, ridden and switched right approaching 2 out, soon beaten, one pace
tracked leaders until approaching 3 out
Brian Ellison sends Dusky Bob on the long journey from Yorkshire and the recent winner over both hurdles and fences will find this less taxing than at Ascot last time. Knight Legend is admirably consistent and though now well into the veteran stage can still produce the goods as he did twice at Market Rasen in the summer. He's won from much higher marks over fences but the ground could be a little too testing for him. Grand Vision was possibly unfortunate not to get the race when runner-up to Gullinbursti at Hereford, though he was receiving a stone from the winner, and Tribal Dance may have a better chance as he didn't appear to enjoy quicker conditions at Fakenham after completing a double on soft ground in November. NO NO BINGO, a winning point-to-pointer in Ireland, has shown enough promise in two maidens for new connections to suggest he is up to taking this on his handicap debut.
Sainglend 17-2 (11-0) Tracked leaders, ridden after 9th, close up when not fluent last, stayed on, 4th of 17, 4l behind Themilanhorse (11-0) at Warwick 2m 5f mdn hdl (4) gd in Dec.
Knight Legend (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) Close up, mistake 7th, mistake and unseated rider 8th, in a race won by Frontier Spirit (11-3) at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Dec, 12 ran.
Grand Vision (IRE) 3-1 (10-5) Took keen hold, held up in touch, good headway to track winner after 4 out, challenged last, upsides and every chance when carried left flat, found no extra and held close home, 2nd of 10, nk behind Gullinbursti (11-5) at Hereford 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Black Phantom (IRE) 28-1 (10-10) Mid-division, headway under pressure after 4 out, chased leaders next, weakened before last, 4th of 11, 14l behind Christopher Wren (11-2) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Dec.
Tribal Dance (IRE) 7-2fav (11-12) Led, ridden and headed 2 out, soon weakened, 4th of 11, 35l behind Abnaki (11-12) at Fakenham 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Dec.
Dusky Bob (IRE) 14-1 (11-2) Mid-division, lost place before 4 out, 12th of 14, well behind Water Garden (11-2) at Ascot 3m nov hcp hdl 0-120 (4) sft in Dec.
Domos Boy (IRE) 16-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, awkward 5th, weakened approaching 3 out, 10th of 14, well behind Gunna Be A Devil (11-9) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Nov.
No No Bingo (IRE) 9-1 (11-0) Prominent, went 2nd approaching 6th, led next until hit 2 out, weakened approaching last, just held on for 3rd, 3rd of 15, 20l behind Buddy Bolero (11-0) at Folkestone 2m 6f mdn hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Gilded Age 16-1 (11-12) Led narrowly, headed 4 out, soon ridden and lost place, weakened before 2 out, 9th of 11, well behind Thehillofuisneach (11-3) at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Dec.
Wiesentraum (GER) 14-1 (10-12) Prominent, ridden to challenge 3 out, weakened next, 6th of 14, 38l behind Mister Dillon (10-5) at Lingfield 2m 3f NH nov hdl 4-6yo (4) gs in Nov.
Balustrade (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, lost place after 5th, progress after next, disputing 2nd 2 out, stayed on same pace before last, 3rd of 6, 9l behind Promised Wings (11-6) at Folkestone 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Dec.