held up in rear, ridden 7th, struggling after 3 out, plugged on before last, no chance
held up in rear, headway when not much room and stumbled bend after 3 out, challenged 2 out, led before last, clear flat, eased close home
held up towards rear on outside, headway after 7th, ridden before 2 out, disputing 4 lengths 4th when brought down last
chased leaders, not much room bend after 3 out, soon weakened
held up in rear, headway after 3 out, driven and switched right before last, soon went 3rd, kept on, no impression on winner
tracked leaders, went 2nd 5th, led 3 out, headed and dropped to 3rd when fell last
rear of mid-division, struggling 3 out
mid-division on inside, lost place before 8th, soon behind, pulled up before 2 out
made most until 3 out, soon weakened
chased leaders, mistake 8th, ridden after 3 out, no extra 2 out, brought down last
pressed leader, slow 3rd, lost 2nd 5th, not fluent 6th, behind when pulled up after 7th
mid-division, switched right and headway after 3 out, every chance 2 out, no impression on winner flat, stayed on
chased leaders, driven before 2 out, held last, stayed on same pace flat
Potters Corner, last season’s Welsh Grand National winner, has only run once this term and is better known as a chaser but he has won three times over hurdles and is potentially well treated. TOBEFAIR is the senior runner in this but still very capable in this grade and he’s back on a winning mark having failed to take to fences at Hereford. Flemcara was a comfortable winner at Doncaster but is 5lb higher while Come On Teddy has gone up 7lb for his Cheltenham victory, though the second has run well again since. Ardlethen may be having a confidence-booster but a back-to-form Imperial Alcazar would be a threat to all. Saint Dalina has been going well in lesser company but held by Mr Harp on the form book while stamina might be an issue again for Espion.
Tobefair 2-1fav (11-2) Tracked leaders, not fluent 10th, outpaced 4 out, soon ridden, rallied to chase easy winner 2 out, no impression, just held on to 2nd, 2nd of 4, 6l behind Fado Des Brosses (11-2) at Hereford 3m 1f (4) hvy in Dec.
Imperial Alcazar (IRE) 13-2 (10-11) Held up in touch, chased leaders 5th, upsides 7th, led approaching 3 out, headed before 2 out, weakened before last, 9th of 17, 15 1/2l behind Main Fact (11-4) at Haydock 3m hcp (1) sft in Nov.
Ardlethen (IRE) 11-2 (10-6) Chasing leaders when fell 2nd, at Ascot 3m hcp lst (1) hvy in Dec.
Kepagge (IRE) 11-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, slow 2nd, not fluent 6th, ridden after 2 out, beaten before last, no extra, 4th of 9, 13l behind Stimulating Song (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Come On Teddy (IRE) 11-2 (10-2) Held up in rear, headway after 3 out, led last, edged left flat, stayed on, clear towards finish, won at Cheltenham 3m hcp (2) sft in Dec beating On The Blind Side (11-11) by 5 1/2l, 12 ran.
Flemcara (IRE) 11-4 (11-3) Held up in touch, progress to press leader 3rd, led 6th, headed after 4 out, travelled strongly to lead before 3 out, ridden clear after 2 out, kept on from last, won at Doncaster 3m hcp (3) hvy in Dec beating Gosheven (10-11) by 1 1/4l, 6 ran.
Potters Corner (IRE) 17-2 (10-6) Held up in rear, not always fluent, headway 25th, not fluent 4 out, closed before last, went 3rd final 150 yards, kept on, no impression on winner, 3rd of 9, 7l behind Kingswell Theatre (10-0) at Cheltenham 3m 6f hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Geordie Des Champs (IRE) 3-1 (11-1) Mid-division, jumped slowly 3rd and 4th, headway to chase leaders before 11th, slow 14th, mistake 5 out, soon weakened, 7th of 9, 35 1/4l behind Traffic Fluide (11-12) at Ascot 3m hcp (1) gd in Nov.
The Macon Lugnatic 10-1 (11-6) Close up, led narrowly 2nd, headed 7th, ridden and lost ground after 4 out, tailed off from 2 out, 5th of 6, dist behind Streets Of Doyen (11-6) at Cheltenham 3m (2) gs in Oct.
Espion (FR) 4-1jfav (11-1) Held up off the pace in last pair, headway before 3 out, weakened between last 2, 6th of 10, 6 3/4l behind Portrush Ted (11-12) at Sandown 2m 7f hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
The Captains Inn (IRE) 5-1 (11-9) Close up and disputed lead, settled in 3rd after 2nd, ridden before 3 out, soon weakened and tailed off, last of 4, dist behind Exploiteur (11-2) at Chepstow 3m hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Mr Harp (IRE) 11-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, much closer before 3 out, travelling easy and led 2 out, led narrowly last, kicked clear after the last, comfortable, won at Uttoxeter 2m 7f hcp (4) hvy in Dec beating Saint Dalina (11-4) by 3l, 6 ran.
Saint Dalina (FR) 8-11fav (11-4) Tracked leader, much closer 7th, pressed leader 3 out, not fluent 2 out, every chance when ridden last, no match for the winner after the last, 2nd of 6, 3l behind Mr Harp (11-7) at Uttoxeter 2m 7f hcp (4) hvy in Dec.
