close up, ridden 3 out, weakened next, pulled up before last
tracked leaders, ridden to chase clear winner when mistake 2 out, kept on same pace
tracked winner until ridden approaching 2 out, soon weakened
made all, clear last, heavily eased flat
always in rear, outpaced 4 out, pulled up next
held up, pushed along 5th, ridden next, never a factor
close up, awkward on landing 5th, ridden 3 out, weakened next
held up, headway to track leaders approaching 3 out, ridden next, kept on same pace
Nonrunner
Spread Boy carries 6lb extra after winning over track and trip recently. But it was soft ground on that occasion and DISTANT RAIN (NAP) is preferred. The latter finished clear of the rest when runner-up at Towcester last week and Henry Oliver’s charge can go one better on only his second start over fences. Halcyon Days is more experienced and won a chase at Ayr in October before finishing runner-up at Musselburgh while Yourholidayisover has had 12 starts without success over fences but went close at Hereford last week.
Le Legro (IRE) 7-2 (11-3) Held up, headway 4 out, ridden 2 out, weakened approaching last, 4th of 7, 19l behind Taroum (10-5) at Fakenham 2m 4f hcp (5) sft in Nov.
Distant Rain (IRE) 14-1 (11-10) Prominent, not fluent 7th, led after 3 out, clear next, slow last, headed flat, one pace, 2nd of 11, 2 1/4l behind Adarenna (11-1) at Towcester 2m hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Nicki's Nipper 8-1 (11-4) Led, ridden and headed run-in, no extra, 4th of 11, 4 3/4l behind Morning With Ivan (10-4) at Cartmel 2m 1f hcp (5) gd in Jul.
Maxed Out King (IRE) 10-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, quickly weakened from 5th, soon pulled up, at Southwell 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Definitely Glad (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Held up behind, chased leaders before last (usual 3 out), ridden and one pace before omitted last, no impression, 4th of 7, 5 1/2l behind Italian Riviera (11-12) at Kelso 2m 2f hcp (5) gf in Oct.
Alchimix (FR) 14-1 (10-13) Held up in touch in rear, not fluent 1st, mistake next, blundered badly and struggling 6th, last of 6, 37l behind Thankyou Very Much (11-9) at Musselburgh 2m 1f hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Spread Boy (IRE) 11-1 (10-3) Held up in touch, went 3rd before 7th, ridden to lead before last, soon clear, won at Sedgefield 2m hcp (5) sft in Nov beating Pamak D'airy (11-3) by 6l, 9 ran.
Yourholidayisover (IRE) 11-4 (10-0) In touch, led before 2 out, headed last, kept on, 2nd of 5, 1 1/2l behind Knight's Reward (10-2) at Hereford 2m hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Halcyon Days 2-1 (10-12) Pressed leader, led 5th, headed when hit 3 out, blundered and no impression on winner from next, 2nd of 6, 7l behind Thankyou Very Much (11-9) at Musselburgh 2m 1f hcp (4) gd in Nov.
