behind, steady headway from 10th, ridden in 4th before 4 out, never going pace to get to leaders, stayed on same pace, waakened to 5th flat
mistakes in rear, mistake 7th, ridden and struggling after 11th (water), blundered 15th, tailed off
raced wide, behind, not fluent 3rd, headway 9th, chased leading trio before 12th, weakened under pressure 15th
not fluent 1st, prominent in chasing group, reminders after 8th, ridden in 5th before 12th, gradually weakened from 4 out
made all, clear 9th, reduced lead 15th, came readily clear again from 3 out, stayed on well, unchallenged
chased clear leading duo, went 2nd 13th, closed on winner 15th, ridden and no chance from 3 out
always behind, tailed off
prominent in chasing group, mistake 10th, outpaced 12th, plugged on again from 4 out
in touch in chasing group, weakening when mistake 12th, no danger after
close up in chasing group, went left 13th, headway to 3rd at 14th, stayed on same pace from 4 out
chased winner until mistake 13th, stayed front rank until outpaced before 15th, plugged on from next, went modest 4th flat
never reached beyond mid-division, ridden in rear after 10th, tailed off soon after, pulled up before 4 out
The veteran Gerrard has been off since winning by 10 lengths at Southwell in November and tends to reserve his best efforts for stiffer tracks than this, while there has to be a question mark over Timpo now after he finished second for the third time in a row at Huntingdon last month. Ballabrook disappointed at Musselburgh last time and is still a maiden over fences, while Jacarado usually finds at least one too good and races from out of the handicap proper here. Former pointer Mr Chippy showed promise on his first start over the larger obstacles at Chepstow, however, though the one to beat may be ERE ALFIE. Nick Williams' charge has yet to win over this trip but did score over 2m6f at Fontwell in November. An early mistake knocked the stuffing out of him at Plumpton subsequently but he has an experienced conditional on board here in Ian Popham and more scope than a lot of these.
Porta Vogie (IRE) 3-1fav (11-9) Held up in rear, headway 8th, 4th when blundered next, one pace and well held when hit 3 out, weakened before last, 5th of 10, 12l behind Mister Wiseman (11-8) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd.
Earcomesthedream (IRE) 9-2 (11-8) Chased leaders, ridden after 7th, chased winner approaching 2 out until after 2 out, no extra last, 3rd of 17, 11l behind Henry Hook (11-5) at Towcester 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Nov.
Ballabrook (IRE) 5-1 (10-10) Tended to jump left, towards rear, headway to 6th when not fluent 7th, went left 11th, weakened soon after, nochance when mistake 3 out, tailed off, 7th of 9, well behind Isla Pearl Fisher (10-3) at Musselburgh 3m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs in Jan.
Our Columbus (IRE) 25-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, mistake 4 out, soon outpaced, weakened next, 10th of 16, 36l behind Pride In Battle (10-12) at Newbury 2m 3f NH nov hdl 4-6yo (4) gd in Dec.
Ere Alfie (IRE) 6-4fav (11-10) Held up in touch, chased leaders 5 out, weakened 3 out, 6th of 8, well behind Manmoon (11-2) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Jan.
Timpo (FR) 9-4fav (11-9) Tracked leader, jumped right on occasions, no impression 4 out, rallied 2 out, went 2nd approaching last where mistake, no chance with winner, hung right flat, 2nd of 6, 9l behind Honourable Arthur (11-12) at Huntingdon 3m 5yo nov hcp (4) gs in Jan.
Killowenabbey (IRE) 14-1 (11-5) Tracked leader, in 2nd when stumbled and fell after 8th, in a race won by Marsh Court (11-10) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs, 9 ran.
Ethiopia 14-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, lost place 2nd, ridden 5th, behind from 9th, 6th of 11, 42l behind Hobb's Dream (10-6) at Hereford 3m 1f hcp chs 0-95 (5) hvy in Jan.
Gerrard (IRE) 12-1 (11-1) Ran in snatches and sometimes jumped slowly, close 3rd 13th, went 2nd after 4 out, soon driven, led 2 out, clear last, ridden out, won at Southwell 3m hcp 0-100 (4) gd in Nov beating One More Dinar (10-7) by 10l, 8 ran.
Mr Chippy (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, headway to 2nd 10th, led and pecked next, headed 5 out, no chance with winner next, 2nd of 11, 11l behind Lady De La Vega (11-10) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft.
Tora Bora (GER) 12-1 (10-8) Led, ridden after 3 out, headed before 2 out and not fluent, one pace and no chance with winner, 2nd of 10, 12l behind Lackamon (11-12) at Southwell 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Jan.
Feeling Peckish (USA) 14-1 (10-11) Mid-division, jumped right 9th, headway 11th, weakened after 14th, tailed off, 8th of 16, 48l behind One More Dinar (11-8) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-85 (5) gd.
Jacarado (IRE) 8-1 (10-5) Held up in touch, closed 5th, led after 14th, headed 3 out, one pace, lost 2nd flat, 3rd of 16, 13l behind One More Dinar (11-8) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-85 (5) gd.
