with leader, led narrowly before 3 out, headed next, ridden and outpaced by front pair between last 2, rallied to chase winner inside final 100 yards
tracked leaders on outside, joined leader 3 out, led narrowly next, driven and headed between last 2, not much room and switched right after last, weakened final 110 yards
held up behind, headway 4 out, pushed along after next, challenged on outside 2 out, led between last 2, edged left after last, ridden out, kept on
made most to before 3 out, soon lost place and weakened, tailed off when pulled up between last 2
tracked leaders, mistake 4 out, outpaced next, ridden and no impression when hit 2 out, weakened between last 2
behind most of way, lost touch 10th, mistake next, tailed off when pulled up after 5 out
NonRunner
NonRunner
Ami Desbois is eased in grade and has travelled up from Gloucestershire. Any market support would be significant but Slanelough continues to disappoint. There has been no stopping Knockoura lately but he will have to defy a further 7lb rise to complete the hat-trick. CHAPEL STILE (NAP) has won four of his last five starts. He remains unexposed over fences and has placed twice around here over hurdles so Nicky Richards’ eight-year-old will have no excuses today. Jessica Harrington has sent over Neverushacon but he’s been mixing it in cross-country races and over hurdles.
Ami Desbois (FR) 9-1 (11-8) Made most to 5 out, lost place next, soon ridden, beaten 3 out, weakened before last, 6th of 10, 31l behind Crievehill (11-12) at Haydock 3m 2f hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Neverushacon (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Mid-division, chased leaders after 5 out, outpaced 2 out, never able to challenge, 5th of 15, 19 3/4l behind Easysland (11-3) at Cheltenham 3m 6f hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Big River (IRE) 10-1 (11-12) Always behind, pulled up, at Kelso 4m hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Knockoura (IRE) 5-4fav (11-1) Tracked leader, led 10th, headed briefly 4 out, ridden sand stayed on flat(paddock fence omitted ), won at Bangor-on-Dee 3m hcp (3) hvy in Dec beating Bob Ford (11-0) by 3l, 4 ran.
Slanelough (IRE) 9-2 (11-5) Chased leaders on inside, pushed along before 4 out, kept on into 3rd run-in, 3rd of 9, 13 3/4l behind Boldmere (11-10) at Doncaster 3m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Justforjames (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, blundered and unseated rider 10th, at Haydock 2m 6f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Chapel Stile (IRE) 11-4 (11-7) Slowly away, in rear, close up on outside final circuit, went 2nd after last (usual 5 out), soon ridden, 5 lengths down bypassing omitted 2 out, stayed on well inside final furlong, led final strides (all fences in home straight omitted, low sun), won at Carlisle 2m 5f hcp (3) hvy in Dec beating Cloudy Glen (11-7) by nk, 5 ran.
Federici 14-1 (10-0) Led, not fluent 12th (canal turn), headed 4 out, not fluent 3 out, weakened and pulled up before 2 out, at Aintree 2m 5f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
