held up in rear, slow 7th, struggling 12th, behind when pulled up after 17th
led, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, led again soon after, stayed on gamely
held up in rear, mistake 2nd, blundered 5 out, soon pulled up
chased leaders, ridden 15th, weakened before 5 out
behind, mistake 1st, soon detatched, pulled up 10th
mid-division, headway to chase leaders halfway, ridden to lead after 4 out, blundered and headed next, mistake next, no extra closing stages
tracked leaders, mistake 7th, hit 13th, effort 3 out, kept on under pressure
mid-division, weakened 14th, soon behind, pulled up 17th
behind, mistake 2nd, under pressure 12th, pulled up before 16th
mid-division, headway under pressure 15th, blundered next, soon beaten
held up in rear, headway 11th, weakened before 15th, pulled up 3 out
in touch, lost place before 11th, behind when pulled up 15th
in rear, struggling 12th, pulled up after next
Monkerty Tunkerty won this last year and the veteran has probably been primed for a repeat having been campaigned over hurdles lately, though is 6lb higher. Golden Chieftain won the Southern National at Fontwell in November but this looks tougher than the race Rocky Bender won at Exeter on New Year's Day. Dawson City may well have won at Chepstow last time had he not been hampered so goes on the short-list, as does the in-form Big Society while bottom weight Onderun arrives off a second at Lingfield and is having only his third start over fences. SHOCKINGTIMES was a ready winner back over a longer trip here on Boxing Day. Though now on a career-high mark, Jamie Snowden's charge may still be improving and shouldn't be far away again.
Leo Luna 4-1jfav (11-0) Held up towards rear, never involved, 10th of 15, dist behind Carole's Destrier (11-10) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Monkerty Tunkerty 7-1 (10-12) Led, clear until after 3rd, not fluent 7th, headed 3 out, no impression 2 out, 4th of 9, 15 1/4l behind Singlefarmpayment (10-12) at Southwell 3m (4) sft in Dec.
Golden Chieftain (IRE) 12-1 (10-7) Chased leaders, reminder after 10th, ridden 14th, jumped left 17th, mistake next, 6th and struggling after 4 out, plugged on and went 4th flat, 4th of 15, 28 1/4l behind Soll (11-9) at Sandown 3m hcp (2) hvy in Jan.
Shockingtimes (IRE) 6-1 (11-6) In touch, hampered 1st, headway 11th, led 4out, clear next, mistake last, pushed out, won at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp (3) sft in Dec beating Astigos (11-7) by 7l, 7 ran.
Royal Palladium (FR) 3-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, dropped to rear 6th, blundered 9th, struggling 11th, tailed off 5 out, pulled up before next, at Ffos Las 3m 1f hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Big Society (IRE) 7-2 (11-7) Held up behind, struggling when blundered 13th and again 15th, rallied to chase leaders before 4 out, disputed 2nd and chance when blundered last, kept on, held flat, 3rd of 8, 2l behind Silvergrove (11-7) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Dawson City 13-2 (11-1) Led, ridden when headed briefly before 5 out, kept on and narrow advantage when hampered by loose horse and unseated rider 3 out, at Chepstow 3m hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Krackatoa King 10-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, pushed along from 11th, weakened before 4 out, 8th of 9, 32 1/4l behind Wizards Bridge (10-10) at Exeter 3m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Letbeso (IRE) 9-1 (10-12) Held up mid-division, pushed along before 9 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 6 out, at Fontwell 3m 3f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Tales Of Milan (IRE) 20-1 (10-0) In touch, headway 12th, outpaced 15th, soon behind, never involved after, 7th of 15, 30l behind Carole's Destrier (11-10) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Rocky Bender (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) Mid-division, headway before 3 out, led before last, kept on well, won at Exeter 3m hcp (4) hvy in Jan beating Somerset Lias (11-6) by 13l, 9 ran.
Strollawaynow (IRE) 10-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear, mistake 1st, headway 7th, ridden after 12th, outpaced 14th, well held next, 7th of 12, 28 1/4l behind Cyclop (10-13) at Warwick 3m hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Upham Atom 14-1 (11-6) Led until 2nd, chased winner until 7th, chased leaders, weakened before 4 out, went modest 4th last, 4th of 7, 29l behind Aachen (11-11) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Onderun (IRE) 7-1 (10-11) Held up towards rear, headway tracking leaders approaching 7th, blundered 13th, went 2nd close home, no chance with winner, 2nd of 9, 9l behind Baby Shine (11-11) at Lingfield 2m 7f hcp (3) hvy in Dec.