held up in rear, headway approaching 16th, challenged last, led flat, driven out
held up towards rear, pushed along approaching 12th, behind 18th
jumped slowly at times, always behind
held up towards rear, ridden after 15th, behind 18th
prominent, led approaching 3rd, hit 4 out, headed 2 out, no extra flat
prominent, not fluent 12th, ridden after 15th, went 2nd next until 18th, hampered on bend after 3 out, no extra next
mid-division, not always fluent, headway 17th, no impression approaching 2 out
held up towards rear, not fluent 8th, headway 17th, ridden approaching 2 out, stayed on well to take 2nd towards finish
mid-division, not fluent 16th, hit next, outpaced 3 out, staying on when mistake last, nearest finish
mid-division, not fluent 15th, headway 17th, blundered 4 out, weakened after next
tracked leaders, not fluent 15th, lost place 17th, well beaten after
tracked leaders, mistake 2nd, jumped right and not fluent 15th, not fluent 17th, went 2nd next, hit 4 out, not fluent 3 out, led next, headed flat, lost 2nd towards finish
led until approaching 3rd, tracked leader unti 16th, lost place 18th
Alan King has won the last two renewals of this so it would be no surprise to see Blazing Bailey return to form, especially as he scored over 3m4f at Ffos Las around this time last year. David Pipe runs two and the upped-in-class Sona Sasta is preferred to Faasel, while Strongbows Legend was well backed to follow up his earlier win at Plumpton last time but fell at the 10th. Major Malarkey ran a couple of good races over today's trip at Sandown last year but came up just short and preference is for NEPTUNE EQUESTER. A winner over 3m4f at Haydock in November, he failed to mount a challenge back over a shorter trip at Wetherby last time but this greater test of stamina should bring out the best in him. Hey Big Spender floundered in testing ground in the Welsh Grand National last month but can do better here.
Hey Big Spender (IRE) 33-1 (11-12) Held up in mid-division, mistake 1st, hampered 8th, starting to get closer when fell 13th, in a race won by Le Beau Bai (10-1) at Chepstow 3m 5f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) hvy in Dec, 20 ran.
Blazing Bailey 25-1 (11-5) Mid-division, struggling 14th, well behind 17th, pulled up after, in a race won by Le Beau Bai (10-1) at Chepstow 3m 5f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) hvy in Dec, 20 ran.
Faasel (IRE) 14-1 (10-7) Chased leaders, went 2nd before 3 out, led 2 out, 2 lengths ahead last, stayed on until headed and not quicken final 110 yards, 2nd of 18, 2 1/4l behind Poker De Sivola (10-12) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gf in Apr.
Neptune Equester 17-2 (10-3) Mid-division, ridden 11th, soon behind, 5th of 13, 26l behind According To Pete (9-11) at Wetherby 3m 1f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) sft in Dec.
Hello Bud (IRE) 12-1 (11-4) Prominent, lost place 7th, ridden after 13th, behind 4 out, 6th of 13, 33l behind Mostly Bob (10-10) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs.
Sona Sasta (IRE) 11-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, 3rd halfway, ridden in 9th 3 out, soon no extra and kept on one pace, 12th of 26, 16l behind Cross Appeal (10-4) at Leopardstown 3m hcp chs 0-145 in Dec.
On Borrowed Wings (IRE) 33-1 (11-3) In touch main group, close up after 5th, outpaced after 3 out, no impression from next, 7th of 19, 29l behind Poungach (11-4) at Sandown 2m 6f hcp hdl (2) gs in Dec.
Fredo (IRE) 16-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, ridden before 3 out, weakened before 2 out, 5th of 11, 23l behind Prophete De Guye (10-10) at Ascot 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Nov.
Major Malarkey (IRE) 5-1 (10-4) Held up in touch on outside, mistake 11th, joined leader 20th, every chance when not fluent last, ridden and no extra flat, 5th of 8, 7l behind Deep Purple (11-12) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp chs 0-150 (2) gs in Dec.
Miko de Beauchene (FR) 33-1 (10-11) Held up, mistake 8th, ridden after 10th, well beaten approaching 4 out, very tired when virtually walked over 3 out and unseated rider, in a race won by Cannington Brook (10-9) at Haydock 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) hvy in Dec, 11 ran.
Bench Warrent (IRE) 50-1 (9-4) Prominent, lost place approaching 7th, hampered 13th, stayed on from 3 out, no impression on leaders, 4th of 20, 27l behind Le Beau Bai (10-1) at Chepstow 3m 5f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) hvy in Dec.
Strongbows Legend 13-8fav (11-7) Pecked badly 1st, tracked leader until clipped the top of the 10th, knuckled badly and fell, in a race won by Double Dizzy (10-9) at Plumpton 3m 5f hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy, 9 ran.
Morning Moment 9-2 (10-0) Always towards rear, weakened before 10th, tailed off, 9th of 13, well behind Qianshan Leader (10-2) at Doncaster 3m hcp chs 0-150 (2) gs in Dec.
Fortification (USA) 13-2 (11-5) Raced wide in rear, some headway before 13th, weakened next, tailed off when pulled up after 4 out, in a race won by Fruity O'Rooney (11-7) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-140 (3) gd in Dec, 12 ran.
