towards rear, closed up to mid-division 8th, ridden home turn and well held from 3 out, pulled up before last
close up, pressed leader and mistake 3 out, led narrowly 2 out, soon drew clear, pushed out run-in and eased towards finish, readily
led, pressed and mistake 3 out, headed narrowly before 2 out, ridden and outpaced by winner after 2 out, weakened and lost 2 places run-in
chased leaders, ridden after 2 out, kept on, not pace to challenge
mid-division, jumped left on occasions, dropped to rear but still in touch 7th, ridden and went 4th 3 out, stayed on to take 2nd run-in , no chance with winner
raced in rear, chased front pack home turn, soon outpaced and weakening when mistake 2 out, plugged on one pace
tracked leaders, pushed along and lost places after 9th, hit 4 out and weakened quickly, soon pulled up
towards rear, ridden home turn, left behind from 3 out, weakened quickly before last
Alkopop ended last year in good form over hurdles though is 10lb higher than when last successful and debuts over fences. Dorking Lad returned a beaten favourite at Fontwell on his reappearance and chasing bow when fading badly but VOCALISER (NAP) has won seven times over fences and posted a better effort at Bangor on his first start after wind surgery. He’s back on a winning mark and Olly Murphy’s yard continues to fire-in the winners. Clondaw Promise finished a distant second at Uttoxeter recently while Allardyce has won over fences in Ireland and debuts for a new yard.
Touchthesoul (ITY) 7-2 (11-5) Held up, headway 5th, not fluent 8th, outpaced after 3 out, well held 2 out, 4th of 6, 23l behind Hazzaar (11-10) at Warwick 2m hcp (4) gs in May.
Clondaw Promise (IRE) 4-1 (11-11) Mid-division, slow 3rd, headway before 7th, not soon 2nd, not fluent 9th, mistake 11th, no impression on winner when blundered 2 out, 2nd of 8, 24l behind No No Maestro (11-9) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Ardmayle (IRE) 18-1 (12-1) Held up in rear on inside, closed 3rd, not fluent 4 out, weakened after next, remote 4th when pulled up after 2 out, at Bangor-on-Dee 3m hcp (4) sft in May.
Vocaliser (IRE) 9-1 (11-11) Mid-division, asked for effort over 2 out, no impression soon after, 4th of 9, 5 1/2l behind Northern Bound (11-11) at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Sep.
Animal (IRE) 11-4fav (11-2) Led after 1st, slowed into next and headed, chased leader, not fluent 5th, outpaced and beaten from 2 out, 5th of 8, 11l behind The Macon Lugnatic (11-10) at Ffos Las 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in May.
Allardyce 9-2fav (11-7) Prominent, slight mistake 1st, on terms 2nd, soon led and went on, reduced lead and headed when slight mistake 2 out, one pace after, 2nd of 12, 11l behind Buttons And Bows (11-3) at Wexford 2m 4f hcp gd in Sep.
Captain Cuckoo 11-1 (11-10) Held up last, closer at 4th, went 3rd 4 out, soon ridden, stayed on same pace, weakened run-in, lost two places towards finish, last of 5, dist behind Darebin (11-12) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp (4) sft in Oct.
Vital Sign (IRE) 50-1 (10-0) Towards rear when stumbled and unseated rider 2nd, at Plumpton 2m 5f hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Alkopop (GER) Evensfav (11-0) Pressed leader, driven before 3 out, outpaced by leading pair 2 out, rallied approaching last, led narrowly under pressure flat, kept on but headed close home, 2nd of 10, 1l behind Ratfacemcdougall (11-9) at Hereford 3m 2f hcp (4) sft in Mar.
Dorking Lad 15-8fav (11-12) Held up last, hit 6th, went 4th after 10th, pushed along and outpaced before 3 out, 4th of 5, dist behind Native Robin (11-10) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp (4) sft in Oct.
