took keen hold, held up towards rear, steady headway approaching 5th, chased leaders 4 out, went 2nd after 3 out, challenged and every chance 2 out, held when hit last, stayed on same pace flat
mostly in rear, never involved
raced very wide towards rear, good headway to chase leaders and hit 7th, hit 4 out, weakened soon after, tailed off
held up towards rear, racing on outside when hit 7th, headway approaching 2 out, kept on from last, not pace to threaten
held up rear of mid-division, steady headway 5th, chased leaders 4 out, driven in 5th after 3 out, weakened before 2 out
always rear-division, never involved, tailed off
held up towards rear, ridden along before 4 out, plugged on from next, never on terms
prominent early, behind from 4th, in rear and struggling 6th, never a factor
towards rear, stayed on from 2 out, never going pace to get involved
led until after 2nd, chased leaders, driven after 4 out, led again 3 out, ridden and headed 2 out, stayed on same pace in 3rd and no real impression after
chased leaders, ridden after 7th, weakened approaching 4 out
chased leaders, mistake and weakened 4 out, soon behind, tailed off
in touch, ridden and one pace after 3 out, weakened next
held up in mid-division, mistake 3rd, good headway approaching 3 out, chased leaders well before next, led 2 out, in command last, kept on strongly flat
chased leaders, led approaching 4th, ridden and headed 3 out, weakened soon after, tailed off
took keen hold, held up towards rear, steady headway approaching 5th, went 2nd before 7th, challenged and hit 3 out, weakened before next
behind, stayed on from after 3 out, kept on from last, never going pace to reach leaders
chase leader, led after 2nd until after 4th, chased leader until approaching 7th, weakened quickly 4 out, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
Smad Place produced a cracking effort to beat good yardstick Shoreacres by seven lengths on his reappearance over C&D. He's 7lb higher now but should give another good account. Swincombe Flame landed a big gamble at Kempton on her handicap debut and is still on an upward curve, while Mountainous has won his last two starts at Ffos Las with a bit in hand. Vino Griego and King Edmund are better over fences but Art Professor has claims on his best form and is worth another try over this longer trip. VALID REASON steps out of novice company for the first time but his defeat of Deireadh Re over 2m6f here in November has worked out well and he was awarded the race in the stewards' room when narrowly beaten under a penalty at Towcester next time. Dean Ivory's gelding was a tough sort on the Flat and can maintain his unbeaten record over hurdles. though Dunraven Storm should strip fitter for his run at Taunton.
Smad Place (FR) 7-1 (11-9) Held up towards rear, headway 4 out, chased leaders 2 out, led between last 2, 2 lengths ahead last, stayed on strongly, driven clear, won at Ascot 2m 3f Ltd hcp hdl (1) gs in Jan beating Shoreacres (11-3) by 7l, 10 ran.
Crack Away Jack 11-4fav (11-9) Mid-division, headway from 9th, disputing 5th and closing when blundered 3 out and lost momentum, rallied 2 out, no impression flat, 5th of 17, 11l behind Tanks For That (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Nov.
Mad Moose (IRE) 33-1 (10-0) Towards rear, headway into mid-division on outside 9th, chased leader after 3 out to next, 7th and no impression when hit last, 8th of 16, 22l behind Quantitativeeasing (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gd in Dec.
Dunraven Storm (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Took keen hold, held up towards rear, outpaced 6th, kept on from 2 out, never able to challenge, 6th of 12, 27l behind Ranjaan (10-5) at Taunton 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gs in Jan.
Vino Griego (FR) 7-1 (11-5) Prominent, led 3rd, mistake 12th, joined and hit 3 out, headed soon after and dropped to 3rd, weakening when left modest 4th 2 out, 4th of 11, 16l behind Triolo D'Alene (10-8) at Ascot 2m 3f nov ltd hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Jan.
Orzare (IRE) 20-1 (10-9) Took keen hold, held up towards rear, headway 4 out, chased leading pair on outside 2 out, disputing 2 lengths 2nd when blundered last, weakened, not recover, 3rd of 10, 10l behind Smad Place (11-9) at Ascot 2m 3f Ltd hcp hdl (1) gs in Jan.
Art Professor (IRE) 13-2 (10-12) Tracked leaders, driven and outpaced after 2 out, ridden after last, stayed on to go 2nd final 50 yards, no impression, 2nd of 14, 4l behind Module (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl (2) gs in Jan.
Sarando 14-1 (11-0) Always in rear, struggling when pulled up, in a race won by According To Pete (9-11) at Wetherby 3m 1f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) sft in Dec, 13 ran.
Valid Reason 7-4fav (11-5) Soon led, hit 7th, joined 4 out, hard pressed from next, soon ridden, not fluent last, bumped by winner flat, kept on, headed post, finished 2nd, awarded race, won at Towcester 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Dec beating Castle Conflict (10-7) by ns, 16 ran.
Swincombe Flame 9-2fav (10-4) Tracked leaders, left in lead on bend after 4th, headed narrowly 2 out, every chance when not fluent last, soon ridden, rallied flat, regained lead post, won at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl (2) gd in Jan beating Featherbed Lane (11-4) by ns, 19 ran.
Emmaslegend 33-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, struggling 12th, never near leaders, 4th of 6, 39l behind Grands Crus (11-7) at Kempton 3m nov chs Grade 1 (4yo+) (1) gs in Dec.
King Edmund 8-1 (11-2) Chased leader, led 4th, hit 6th, joined 4 out, ridden and headed next, weakened before 2 out, 6th of 9, 20l behind Hold Fast (11-0) at Sandown 2m hcp chs (2) gs in Jan.
Mountainous (IRE) 7-4fav (11-4) Made all, ridden and stayed on gamely flat, won at Ffos Las 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Jan beating Rimini (10-2) by 2l, 9 ran.
Bourne 11-10fav (11-10) In touch, led before and hit 2 out, ridden and headed flat, kept on towards finish, 2nd of 8, hd behind Spiekeroog (11-3) at Newcastle 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft.
Book'em Danno (IRE) 20-1 (11-3) Pulled hard, led to 1st, tracked leader, led again before 6th, hit next, headed before 2 out, soon weakened, 10th of 14, 30l behind Hildisvini (11-3) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-140 (3) gs in Jan.
Eastlake (IRE) 25-1 (10-6) In touch, outpaced after 3 out, weakened from next, 8th of 19, 31l behind Swincombe Flame (10-4) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl (2) gd in Jan.
Helium (FR) 5-2 (11-3) Jumped right, led, ridden before 2 out, headed last, stayed on same pace flat, 2nd of 6, 3 1/2l behind Doeslessthanme (11-3) at Fontwell 2m 4f nov chs (4) gs in Oct.
Aimigayle 7-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, went 2nd 13th, challenged 16th, led next until headed 20th, weakened before 3 out, tailed off, 8th of 18, well behind Poker De Sivola (10-12) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gf in Apr.
