led until 2nd, led 4th until not fluent 5th, led 6th, ridden and headed last, stayed on same pace
mid-division, 5 lenghts 5th 11th, weakened and pulled up before 4 out
mid-division, headway 7th, mistake 11th, not fluent 2 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, bad mistake and lost place 6th, reminders after hitting next, weakened 4 out, tailed off
always prominent, ridden after 2 out, challenged last, soon led, stayed on well
held up in rear, mistakes 3rd and 8th, fell 9th
in touch, outpaced 9th, rallied briefly approaching 4 out, weakened 3 out
led 2nd until 4th, led 5th until 6th, remained front rank, ridden 4 out, close enough in 3rd when hit last, one pace
towards rear, jumped left and slowly 7th, behind 9th, pulled up before 4 out
in rear, not much room 2nd, pushed along after 5th, jumped slowly 7th, behind 9th, tailed off
The handicapper has reacted badly to Jacarado's close second to Elegant Olive at Huntingdon and Robin Dickin's veteran has his work cut out to regain the winning thread here. Jack The Soldier showed his first worthwhile form under Rules when runner-up at Huntingdon but is 3lb higher now, though still preferred to Mr Bond who continues to be hampered by his jumping. Donald Will Do's recent C&D second came in a three-runner race and he struggles to get his head in front so the vote goes to PHAR AGAIN. Though 7lb higher than when scoring over C&D two weeks ago, he will get every assistance from the saddle which can be decisive in races of this nature.
Ours (FR) 9-2fav (11-12) Held up towards rear, mistake 5th, ridden and weakened from 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Follow The Sun (11-11) at Southwell 2m hcp chs 0-90 (5) gs, 12 ran.
Quelclasse (FR) 25-1 (10-12) Led, hit and headed 4 out, soon weakened, 7th of 9, 31l behind Red Twist (10-9) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) gd in May.
Mr Bond (IRE) 11-2 (11-9) Held up behind, hit 9th, headway 4 out, 3rd and staying on when fell next, in a race won by Autumn Red (11-12) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-90 (5) gd, 10 ran.
Jack The Soldier (IRE) 13-2 (10-12) Chased leaders, went 2nd 10th until next, ridden after 4 out, chased winner approaching last, stayed on flat, 2nd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Normandy Landings (10-10) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs.
Phar Again (IRE) 9-2 (10-13) Tracked leader until 9th, outpaced after 11th, rallied 4 out, went 2nd 2 out, led last, driven out, won at Leicester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-90 (5) gs beating Killfinnan Castle (10-8) by 3l, 10 ran.
Chilla Cilla 11-1 (10-8) Held up in 7th, mistake 7th, headway to 4th 4 out, 3rd before 3 out, led narrowly 2 out, joined last, headed early flat, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 9, 1 1/4l behind Walk Tall (11-7) at Taunton 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Dec.
Jacarado (IRE) 5-1 (9-9) Prominent, went 2nd approaching 8th, led 3 out, went right, not fluent and headed 2 out, stayed on flat, 2nd of 7, 3/4l behind Elegant Olive (11-7) at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gs.
Donald Will Do (IRE) 6-4 (10-13) Led until 9th, not fluent next and pushed along, not fluent 4 out, soon beaten, 2nd of 3, 9l behind Irish Guard (11-9) at Leicester 2m 4f cnd hcp chs (0-95) (5) gd in Nov.
Mickwell Bay 6-1 (10-7) In touch in rear, weakening when jumped right 4 out, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Gerrard (11-1) at Southwell 3m hcp 0-100 (4) gd in Nov, 8 ran.
Mad Professor (IRE) 50-1 (9-8) Held up towards rear, soon mid-division, blundered 7th, no impression from 3 out, 6th of 12, 14l behind Follow The Sun (11-11) at Southwell 2m hcp chs 0-90 (5) gs.
