took keen hold, held up in rear, not fluent 6th, blundered and unseated rider 8th
bustled up to lead after 1st, mistake 9th, driven and headed 13th, in touch until mistake and weakened 4 out, pulled up approaching 2 out
chased leaders, stumbled 11th, jumped right 13th, chased winner 15th to approaching 2 out, no impression soon after, hung right run-in
behind, hit 3rd, tailed off when pulled up before 9th
in touch, headway and went 3rd 13th, blundered and lost place next, tailed off when pulled up approaching 2 out
mistakes, in touch, mistake and dropped to rear 12th, hit next, headway approaching 14th, chased winner approaching 2 out, stayed on same pace run-in
chased leaders, hit 5th, driven before 14th, weakened after 3 out
behind, ridden and struggling approaching 14th, clambered over 2 out, tailed off n 5th when refused last
behind, reminders and headway into midfield 7th, driven after 12th, weakened and pulled up before 14th
led to after 1st, chased leader, led 13th, made rest, hit 3 out and last, driven out
Hill Forts Henry disappointed when last seen but he should run better today, however most of these lack the scope for improvement that Maori Legend has and so he is fancied to win ahead of Tommy Carson and Alderbrook Girl. The selection fell on his sole chase start to date but ran well over hurdles on his reappearance run. That outing should have put him spot on for this and so he should run well, with the step back up in trip expected to suit given the way he stayed on last time out. There are plenty of course and distance winners in the lineup who are all capable on their day; Tommy Carson is not getting any better at 12 but he knows this track like the back of his hoof. Dads Lad is a character who needs to improve his jumping, whilst Alderbrook Girl should be primed after two recent runs. Kiltimoney defied his big odds when filling second last time and is interesting, but from well out of the handicap he needs to prove that a future 14lb rise in the handicap is justified. An open race, and Maori Legend is taken to win.
Elbow Lane (IRE) 50-1 (11-2) Prominent, ridden and weakened before 2 out, 13th of 17, 26l behind Stars Delight (11-3) at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Mar.
Tommy Carson 14-1 (10-4) With leaders, lost place after 11th, tailed off when pulled up 5 out in race won by Thistlecraft (11-8) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Nov, 7 ran.
Strolling Vagabond (IRE) 20-1 (10-0) Held up towards rear, not fluent 4th, under pressure 8th, soon beaten, tailed off when pulled up 5 out in race won by Blaze Ahead (11-4) at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Nov, 11 ran.
Tallow Bay (IRE) 66-1 (10-5) Mid-division, behind when pulled up 4 out in race won by Captain Aubrey (11-1) at Towcester 3m hcp chs 0-100 (4) sft in Nov, 15 ran.
Alderbrook Girl (IRE) 12-1 (10-6) In touch until 12th, 6th of 8, 23l behind Big Al (9-9) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Nov.
Maori Legend 7-1 (10-9) Towards rear, reminder 5th, hampered 6th, ridden 3 out, stayed on approaching 2 out, 3rd of 8, 10l behind Festival Flyer (10-2) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Nov.
Dads Lad (IRE) 20-1 (9-13) Prominent when blundered and unseated rider in race won by Captain Aubrey (11-1) at Towcester 3m hcp chs 0-100 (4) sft in Nov, 15 ran.
Hill Forts Henry 10-3fav (11-1) Held up, weakened 7th, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by The General Lee (11-1) at Hereford 3m 2f hcp hdl (5) frm in Nov, 10 ran.
Winding River (IRE) 16-1 (10-8) Behind, mistake 13th, never dangerous, 9th of 15, well behind Got The Gift (10-9) at Sedgefield 3m 3f cnd hcp chs (5) gd in Nov.
Kiltimoney (IRE) 100-1 (9-7) Held up towards rear, blundered 1st, headway to chase leaders after 3rd, ridden 3 out, chased winner next, kept on same pace, 2nd of 15, 14l behind Captain Aubrey (11-1) at Towcester 3m hcp chs 0-100 (4) sft in Nov.
Very Cool 20-1 (10-2) Held up, reminders 7th, lost place from 9th, tailed off 3 out, 6th of 9, well behind Brooklyn Brownie (11-7) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Nov.
