led or disputed lead, clear leader after 3 out, ridden and hard pressed next, headed between last 2, kept on same pace in clear 2nd, no impression with winner flat
tracked leaders, blundered and reminder 7th, outpaced when mistake 3 out, chased leading pair under pressure 2 out to before last, weakened flat
tracked leaders, outpaced after 3 out, weakening when mistake next, tailed off
led or disputed lead, ridden after 3 out, lost place before next, soon weakened
mid-division, chased leaders 3 out, ridden next, kept on same pace under pressure, no impression
in touch, outpaced after 3 out, ridden next, stayed on under pressure to go 3rd before last, no impression with leading pair
held up in last pair, headway 3 out, challenged on outside approaching next, led between last 2, stayed on well
held up in last pair, outpaced 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before next
soon behind, mistake 4th, struggling in rear 6th, never dangerous, tailed off
mid-division, ridden to chase leaders after 3 out, weakened between last 2
in touch, pushed along briefly 6th, reminder 8th, outpaced 10th, weakened after 3 out, tailed off
mid-division, mistake 9th, soon lost place, weakened 3 out, tailed off
Fidelis won a handicap over fences in October and can revert to hurdles on a low mark so should get competitive. Cool Steel started favourite for a handicap at Huntingdon on Boxing Day but ran poorly and needs to get back on track Winning point-to-pointer Hunters Lodge will appreciate the stamina test on his handicap debut as will WESTON LODGE. Tom George's charge, another who has scored between the flags, landed a novice hurdle at Wetherby in November and looks just the type to progress through the ranks. He gets the vote though the very lightly-raced Chac Du Cadran looks a potentially decent staying hurdler and a big weight shouldn't prevent a good run. Night In Milan has been chasing but was in excellent form over hurdles at this time a year ago and is another with chances in an open contest.
Chac Du Cadran (FR) 17-2 (11-12) Prominent, went 2nd after 6th, mistake 8th, led after next, headed 3 out, weakened last, 3rd of 16, 12l behind Thehillofuisneach (11-6) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Dec.
Sentimentaljourney (IRE) 7-2fav (11-6) Held up in 6th, pushed along and not travelling from 5th, driven after 4 out, weakened before next, behind and pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Di Kaprio (11-9) at Newbury 2m 5f nov hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gs in Nov, 10 ran.
Weston Lodge (IRE) 10-11fav (10-12) Made all, not fluent 6th, ridden and hard pressed when hit 2 out and last, held on under pressure flat, won at Wetherby 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Nov beating Comeragh King (10-12) by nk, 12 ran.
Mud Monkey 12-1 (11-11) Led until fell 1st, in a race won by Stormhoek (10-7) at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs, 7 ran.
Alcalde 25-1 (10-1) Towards rear, outpaced 3 out, chased leaders under pressure next, no impression, 8th of 17, 18l behind Knight Pass (11-2) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Dec.
Hunters Lodge (IRE) 8-1 (10-5) Tracked leaders, ridden and outpaced by leaders approaching 9th, stayed on same pace from 3 out, went 2nd flat, no chance with winner, 2nd of 9, 12l behind Godsmejudge (10-12) at Huntingdon 3m 2f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Dec.
Night In Milan (IRE) 3-1fav (10-13) Mid-division, headway 4 out, chased leaders next, soon ridden, weakened before last, 4th of 9, 12l behind No Principles (11-8) at Market Rasen 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Dec.
Fidelis (IRE) 10-11fav (11-10) Held up in close 4th, improved on inside 2 out, challenged approaching last, every chance flat, held towards finish, 2nd of 4, 1 1/2l behind The Darling Boy (11-0) at Folkestone 2m 5f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gf in Nov.
Traffic Chaos (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, not fluent, ridden and lost place 4th, headway after next, soon ridden, weakened from 6th, 7th of 11, 46l behind Elegant Olive (9-10) at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Dec.
Cool Steel (IRE) 5-2fav (11-0) Held up, headway approaching 6th, weakened before 2 out, 4th of 11, 27l behind Elegant Olive (9-10) at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Dec.
Royal Kicks (FR) 6-1 (10-13) Behind, pushed along 7th, fell 9th, in a race won by Seize (11-1) at Doncaster 3m hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs in Dec, 8 ran.
Raphiell (IRE) 50-1 (10-12) Held up in mid-division, not fluent 5th, headway when mistake 7th, ridden next, soon weakened, tailed off, 11th of 16, well behind Thehillofuisneach (11-6) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Dec.
Jewelled Dagger (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Always in rear, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Carmela Maria (10-8) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Dec, 11 ran.
