pressed leader until 3rd, stayed in touch, outpaced 14th, stayed on from after 2 out, left close 3rd last, challenged flat, led close home
led until 12th, led again 4 out, about 3 lengths clear when jockey almost took wrong course before last, headed on landing last, no extra towards finish
held up, ridden after 10th, well beaten from 13th, tailed off
in touch, challenged 12th until 14th, 3rd and staying on same pace 2 out, left challenging last, soon led, headed close home
held up, last from 7th, well tailed off 14th, soon pulled up
tracked leaders, went 2nd 3rd, not fluent 8th, led 12th, headed when not fluent 4 out, almost took wrong course before last, soon not much room and slipped, no extra flat
in rear, jumped slowly 3rd, pushed along 8th, driven 12th, effort before 4 out, weakened next, tailed off
Always Bold has won eleven races in his career including seven over hurdles but he's still a maiden over fences and has had plenty of chances. Bally Sands is a rare winner and needs an extreme test of stamina which he may not get in this small field. Winning point-to-pointer AULDTHUNDER (NAP was well supported at Catterick ten days ago on his first start over this sort of trip and looked certain to land the spoils when well clear at the last. He unseated his rider there and can gain compensation with Jamie Bargary an eye-catching booking. The front-running Kings Apollo had ben in reasonable form before a very poor effort at Huntingdon where he was soon done with but the veteran Tuskar Rock won a handicap in this class at Chepstow in October before poor efforts when stepped up in grade.
Always Bold (IRE) 9-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, pushed along on outside and outpaced before 3 out, rallied into well held 3rd 2 out until last, kept on same pace in 4th, 4th of 16, 2 1/2l behind Bredon Hill Lad (11-6) at Exeter 2m 5f am hcp hdl 0-100 (5) sft in Dec.
Bally Sands (IRE) 5-2fav (10-1) Prominent, bumped 1st, led next, bumped again 3rd, headed 7th, mistake 13th (water), ridden after next, one pace and held from after 3 out, 3rd of 10, 14l behind Dark Glacier (11-8) at Stratford 3m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in May.
Oscars Way (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) Prominent, led 6th until 9th, led again 13th, ridden and headed before 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up last, in a race won by Minella Bliss (10-11) at Market Rasen 3m 5f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Dec, 5 ran.
Kings Apollo 3-1 (11-5) Set strong pace, ridden and headed 16th, chased leader until approaching 2 out, weakened approaching last, 4th of 7, 46l behind Silent Cliche (11-7) at Huntingdon 3m hcp 0-100 (5) gs in Dec.
Tuskar Rock (FR) 9-1 (10-8) Led or disputed lead until lost place 11th, soon ridden, weakened 4 out (usual 5 out), tailed off, 7th of 8, well behind Winged Crusader (11-7) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp chs 0-110 (4) hvy in Dec.
Petit Ecuyer (FR) 20-1 (10-0) Held up in touch, chased leaders 10th, hard driven after 4 out, kept on same pace from 2 out, 2nd of 7, 15l behind Carli King (11-1) at Market Rasen 3m 5f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs in Dec.
Auldthunder (IRE) 5-1 (9-11) Held up in touch and towards rear, left in lead 3 out, in command when unseated rider last, in a race won by Foot The Bill (10-7) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Dec, 6 ran.
