led, ridden approaching 3 out, headed after next, weakened flat
in touch, lost place 10th, mistake 13th, rallied approaching 3 out, hung left, weakened approaching last
mid-division, mistake 5th, weakened 9th
held up, headway 10th, ridden to lead after 2 out, headed towards finish
behind, jumped right 3rd, headway 9th, ridden 3 out, weakened next
chased leaders to 4 out, soon weakened
jumped left 1st, chased leader to 14th, one pace from 3 out
in touch, ridden after 3 out, switched left approaching last, ran on to lead towards finish
mid-division, hit 11th, ridden 4 out, weakened after next
in touch, jumped slowly 5th, lost place after next, tailed off when pulled up before 10th
always behind, mistake 10th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, headway 8th, weakened 10th
not jumped well, always behind
behind, mistake, unseated rider 1st
jumped right, always behind
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Heartache comes here in good form but an 8lb rise for his recent success in more testing ground at Towcester leaves him with more to do and preference is for Thedreamstillalive, who gets the vote ahead of Boardroom Dancer and Bay Island. The last mentioned has claims on his form earlier in the season but there is a suspicion that the handicapper now has his measure, while Fin Bec is on a winning mark but has not won for over two years. Roddy The Vet has not got much mileage on the clock but is another that has failed to trouble the judge for some time, while Jack Fuller is held by Heartache on running last time. Boardroom Dancer was good value for his win at Ludlow last time and has to be respected but this looks tougher off his new mark and preference is for Thedreamstillalive. Jim Old's gelding made a winning return over hurdles following a wind operation and having been a winning point-to-pointer in Ireland there should be more to come now that he goes over fences.
Fin Bec (FR) 9-1 (11-3) In touch, hit 3rd, headway 10th, close up when fell at the 15th in race won by Boundary House (10-6) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs (4) sft, 14 ran.
Bay Island (IRE) 5-2fav (10-0) Mid-division, headway 12th, hit 14th, close 6th when blundered and unseated rider 4 out in race won by Millenaire (11-8) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-125 (D) gd in Dec, 11 ran.
Sea Drifting 25-1 (10-5) Chased leaders, lost place 9th, hampered 12th, behind from 4 out, 6th of 9, 40l behind Prince of Slane (10-5) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd.
Thedreamstillalive (IRE) 7-1 (10-13) Held up last, mistake 6th, good headway on bit after 3 out, challenged 2 out, ridden, led approaching last, ridden out flat, won at Wincanton 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (E) gs in Dec beating Touch of Fate (11-11) by 7l, 14 ran.
Jack Fuller (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Rear, headway 7th to track leaders, chased leaders 3 out, weakened 2 out, 6th of 13, 26l behind Heartache (10-0) at Towcester 3m hcp chs 0-100 (4) sft.
Lord Broadway (IRE) 33-1 (10-13) Always towards rear, tailed off and pulled up 2 out in race won by Boundary House (10-6) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs (4) sft, 14 ran.
Boardroom Dancer (IRE) 16-1 (11-3) Led, hit 4 out, ridden when hit 3 out, clear 2 out, comfortably, won at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-88 (5) gd beating Cool Song (11-0) by 7l, 15 ran.
Monger Lane 14-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, ridden after 9th, weakening when not fluent 3 out, last of 8, 44l behind Overserved (10-10) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (D) hvy in Nov.
Paddy The Optimist (IRE) 14-1 (9-11) Never a factor, 8th of 15, 23l behind Glacial Delight (11-11) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd.
Monsieur Georges (FR) 8-1 (11-1) In touch, outpaced 6th, headway 15th, weakened 3 out pulled up 2 out in race won by Regal Vision (10-2) at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-100 (F) gd in Dec, 15 ran.
Roddy The Vet (IRE) 9-1 (11-3) Always behind, tailed off when pulled up at the 12th in race won by Tallow Bay (9-7) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp chs 0-90 (5) sft, 12 ran.
Benefit 16-1 (10-0) Chased leaders, pushed along 9th, soon lost place, behind from 12th, 6th of 10, well behind Captain Mac (10-13) at Sedgefield 2m 5f hcp chs 0-105 (E) hvy in Dec.
Soroka (IRE) 66-1 (10-7) Always towards rear, took poor 3rd 2 out, 3rd of 7, well behind He's The Guv'nor (11-0) at Uttoxeter 3m beg chs (E) hvy in Dec.
Silent Snipe 16-1 (10-0) Towards rear, never dangerous, 7th of 10, 47l behind Free To Run (11-1) at Sedgefield 3m 4f hcp chs 0-110 (E) gd in Mar '04.
Glen Thyne (IRE) 28-1 (11-0) Always towards rear, tailed off from 5 out, 10th of 15, well behind Boardroom Dancer (11-3) at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-88 (5) gd.
Heartache 13-2 (10-0) Led 2nd, headed 8th, led 11th, headed 3 out, kept on to lead close home, won at Towcester 3m hcp chs 0-100 (4) sft beating Never Awol (10-9) by 2l, 13 ran.
Fisherman Jack 16-1 (10-1) Tracked leader, led 9th, headed 3 out, still close up but ridden when mistake 2 out and weakened, 4th of 9, 10l behind Merry Storm (10-3) at Folkestone 2m 5f amt hcp chs (5) sft.
