jumped left, led 3rd, ridden and headed approaching last, one pace
stumbled badly and unseated rider 1st
led 2nd until 3rd, tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened
mid-division, ridden approaching 3 out, some headway approaching 2 out, weakened before last
held up, headway 4th, weakening when mistake 8th, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, hit 4th, soon tailed off
chased leaders, hit 5th, ridden after 8th, outpaced next, stayed on from 2 out
led until 2nd, chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, weakened before 2 out
held up, headway 8th, ridden to chase leader approaching 2 out, led and 1 length clear when blundered last, stayed on, ridden out
mid-division, ridden and headway after 3 out, 3rd and held when hit last
mid-division until dropped rear 3rd, ridden after 7th, lot to do after 3 out, stayed on well from 2 out
National Trust won a very competitive handicap hurdle at Ascot just before Christmas and with a 4lb rise he looks capable of following up here, with Nakai and Snake Charmer nominated as dangers. National Trust's win came on fast ground, but he also handles cut well and this trip is ideal. A 4lb rise looks very fair and Helen Lewis's charge can score. Nakai represents Paul Nicholls and has to give 6lb to the selection. He is lightly raced and acts with cut and also put up a a good effort behind Lightning Strike at Ascot, after which he has been dropped 5lb, so he is taken seriously. Snake Charmer won a much weaker race than the other pair have been contending, a Uttoxeter maiden hurdle, but he has got in with a feather weight for his handicap debut and can go well. Harris Bay looked decent at Ascot on November when his yard's runner were in good form but that is not the case at present and he is overlooked in favour of National Trust.
Nakai (FR) 13-8fav (11-0) Held up, smooth headway approaching 2 out, unable to quicken approaching last, 3rd of 6, 4 1/2l behind Lightning Strike (11-7) at Sandown 2m 4f nov hdl Grd 2 (1) hvy in Dec.
National Trust 9-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, ridden after 2 out, challenged after last, led final stride, won at Ascot 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gf in Dec beating Glacial Sunset (11-12) by a shd, 17 ran.
Coq Hardi (FR) 6-1 (11-11) Held up mid-division, headway after 4 out,ridden to lead last, headed and no extra flat, 2nd of 12, 2l behind Original Fly (10-10) at Aintree 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Nov.
Cold Mountain (IRE) 8-1 (10-4) Led until headed approaching 2 out, weakening when unseated rider at the last in race won by Russian Trigger (10-9) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl (2) sft in Dec, 10 ran.
Royaleety (FR) 16-1 (11-2) Not fluent, blundered 8th, always behind, 9th of 14, 41l behind Butler's Cabin (10-6) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Oct '06.
Surface To Air 100-1 (10-10) Behind, hit 5th, weakened next, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by The Tother One (10-8) at Sandown 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) hvy in Dec, 18 ran.
Mossville (FR) 4-1 (10-4) Chased leaders, hit 4th, weakened 8th, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Sovietica (10-2) at Kempton 3m mrs hcp hdl (2) gs in Dec, 11 ran.
Lincoln's Inn (IRE) 5-1 (11-9) Never going well in rear, lost touch 9th, tailed off when pulled up at the 11th in race won by Beat The Boys (11-2) at Kempton 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Nov, 9 ran.
Harris Bay 10-1 (10-13) Chased leaders, lost place 10th, driven and struggling 12th, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Vodka Bleu (10-3) at Ascot 3m lst hcp chs (1) gf in Dec, 13 ran.
Snake Charmer 11-1 (10-11) Tracked leader, led 3 out, headed approaching 2 out, ridden and led again last, all out, won at Uttoxeter 2m mdn hdl (5) gs in Dec beating Pickamus (10-9) by 3/4l, 15 ran.
See More Jock 10-1 (11-8) Mid-division, some headway after 8th, soon weakened, behind when pulled up 3 out in race won by Ballyboley (11-5) at Towcester 2m 5f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Dec, 14 ran.
