behind, lost touch 12th, pulled up after 14th
in touch, hit 3rd, headway 10th, close up when fell 15th
led 3rd until next, soon driven in mid-divisiob, headway when hampered 16th, stayed on again from 3 out
mid-division, towards rear when fell 14th
in touch, close up when hampered 15th, soon ridden one pace from 4 out
in touch, joined leaders from 11th, led after 15th, blundered 17th, headed 3 out, soon ridden, kept on
led until 3rd, prominent until weakened quickly until 13th, pulled up before next
held up behind, headway 14th, mistake 16th, ridden to chase leader approaching 3 out, 4th and weakening when fell 2 out
always towards rear, tailed off and pulled up after 3 out
chased leaders, led 10th until 12th, chased leaders until weakened after 17th
always towards rear, tailed off when blundered and unseated rider 17th
mid-division, headway 13th, pressing leaders when blundered 15th, ridden after 17th, kept on under pressure from 3 out
held up behind, smooth headway 15th, tracked leaders approaching 4 out, led 3 out, soon ridden, stayed on, ridden out
prominent, led 4th, hit 10th, mistake 15th, soon headed, chased leader, ridden approaching 4 out weakened after 3 out
This is a competitive handicap chase in which Infrasonique, Tribal Dancer and Fin Bec look to be the leading lights and we will take a chance on the last mentioned. Fin Bec is a 13-year-old now, but he showed his still retains all his old enthusiasm for the game when a good second Victory Gunner at Market Rasen on Boxing Day. He is clearly in good heart and with ground conditions to suit should go close. Infrasonique is interesting as he is on a handy mark at present and he did run well last time when a good second behind Mon Mome at Plumpton. Tribal Dancer was a little disappointing last time but he will handle today's ground conditions, although he is probably better over a slightly shorter trip. Motcombe is better than he showed last time so is another to consider, but for the winner we will stick with the veteran campaigner Fin Bec.
Supreme Tadgh (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) Held up, headway to track leading pair going well before 3 out, chased winner approaching last, one pace flat, 2nd of 5, 3l behind Harris Bay (11-6) at Sandown 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-120 (D) sft in Dec.
Fin Bec (FR) 10-1 (10-5) Tracked leaders, led 5th, ridden and headed 2 out, kept on, 2nd of 11, 7l behind Victory Gunner (11-4) at Market Rasen 3m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (D) gs in Dec.
Walter's Destiny 40-1 (10-9) Led until 8th, with leader until 13th, soon lost touch, tailed off, 14th of 16, well behind Toulouse-Lautrec (11-4) at Exeter 3m 6f hcp chs 0-125 (D) gs in Mar.
Motcombe (IRE) 9-2jt-fav (10-9) Held up in touch, jumped right and lost place 5th, behind when blundered 13th, 8th of 12, 33l behind Koumba (11-3) at Newbury 3m nov hcp chs 0-120 (D) gd in Nov.
Infrasonique (FR) 13-2 (10-10) Led after 4th, headed 3 out, no chance with winner 2 out, kept on well flat, 2nd of 11, 6l behind Mon Mome (11-12) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp chs 0-115 (D) sft in Dec.
Treasulier (IRE) 20-1 (10-7) Held up in touch, chased leaders 10th, headway 11th, ridden after 4 out, mistake 2 out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 8, 11l behind Cruising River (11-0) at Taunton 2m 7f beg chs (D) gd in Dec.
Roky Star (FR) 12-1 (11-11) Mid-divsion, lost touch 7th, tailed off, 5th of 7, well behind Athnowen (11-6) at N Abbot 2m 5f hcp chs 0-110 (E) gs in May.
Malko de Beaumont (FR) 8-1 (11-2) In touch, led after 6th, ridden and headed 3 out, weakened, 8th of 16, well behind Galteemountain Boy (11-2) at Warwick 2m 5f mdn hdl (E) sft in Dec.
Lord Broadway (IRE) 66-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, mistake and ridden 11th, kept on same pace from 2 out, 4th of 6, 6l behind Celestial Gold (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m 1f nov chs (B) gf in Apr '04.
Tribal Dancer (IRE) 6-1 (10-0) Led, headed approaching 16th, soon ridden, weakened, 6th of 13, 25l behind Ede'iff (9-10) at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-125 (D) gd in Dec.
Multi Talented (IRE) 20-1 (11-3) Close up until driven along and outpaced 11th, soon struggling, 5th of 8, 25l behind Muttley Maguire (11-7) at Folkestone 3m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (E) gd in Nov.
Nykel (FR) 7-1 (10-13) Led to 4th, tracked leaders, hit 5th, lost place 5 out, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Star De Mohaison (10-5) at Aintree 2m 4f nov chs (C) sft in Oct, 6 ran.
Boundary House 8-1 (10-5) Behind, not fluent 5th, lost touch 9th, tailed off when pulled up 5 out in race won by Hiers De Brouage (10-13) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs 0-110 (E) gs in Nov, 8 ran.
Oscar Performance (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, dropped to rear 11th, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Balladeer (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 6f beg chs (E) sft in Dec, 9 ran.
