made all, clear from 4 out, kept on well
held up in rear, headway halfway, blundered 5 out, chased winner after 4 out, no impression
tracked leader, pushed along before 11th, reminders before next, soon weakened before pulling up
tracked leaders in 3rd, pushed along and lost place from 5th, pulled up before 6 out
tracked leaders, went 2nd after 10th until after 4 out, soon ridden, one pace
always towards rear, weakened from 9th, pulled up before 6 out
Nonrunner
Orange Nassau was still beaten a distance despite finishing third in the Lincolnshire National here on Boxing Day. But he'd earlier finished well ahead of Palos Conti when scoring at Wetherby and should figure again. Milans Well has lost his way since last April's win at Wincanton but Around A Pound showed signs of a resurgence when runner-up to Ultimatum Du Roy over track and trip. Honest John has claims on his third at Doncaster in January but is unreliable and a chance is taken on AIRMEN'S FRIEND. Placed here last time, he's had just the two outings since scoring over these fences in 2012 and has slipped back down to a winning mark.
Orange Nassau (FR) 9-4fav (11-9) Prominent, led 4th, joined 14th, ridden and headed approachin 3 out, weakened last, 3rd of 6, 27l behind Merlin's Wish (11-9) at Market Rasen 3m 5f hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Dec.
Palos Conti (FR) 15-2 (10-0) Led to 10th, remained close up, every chance 4 out, mistake 3 out, weakened before last, 5th of 11, 21l behind Bar De Ligne (10-12) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp chs 0-140 (3) gs in Jan.
Honest John 11-4 (11-12) Led until 5th, mistake 7th, soon given reminder, weakened 10th, pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Divine Intavention (11-6) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Feb, 6 ran.
Around A Pound (IRE) 6-1 (10-13) Held up in last, closed when not fluent 4 out, challenged next, soon led, headed before 2 out, beaten last, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 5, 1 1/4l behind Ultimatum Du Roy (11-8) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Jan.
Airmen's Friend (IRE) 9-2 (11-10) In rear, headway 7th, ridden and outpaced approaching 2 out, rallied approaching last, driven and stayed on to go 3rd close home, 3rd of 11, 4l behind Crookstown (11-9) at Market Rasen 2m 5f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (5) sft in Dec.
Ballyhilty Bridge 16-1 (10-12) Towards rear, struggling in rear 6th, tailed off 3 out, eased soon after, tailed off, 13th of 17, well behind Tarabela (11-11) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) hvy in Feb.
Milans Well (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Not fluent and well in rear, tailed off and pulled before 7th, in a race won by Virginia Ash (11-2) at Plumpton 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) hvy in Jan, 12 ran.
