in touch, driven 4 out, soon outpaced, weakened 2 out
mid-division, outpaced 3 out, kept on under pressure from next, no impression
tracked leader, led narrowly 4 out, ridden 2 out, stayed on gamely under pressure flat, just held on
alway behind
held up in rear, outpaced 3 out, ridden and kept approaching last, never nearer
raced keenly in touch, driven and outpaced 3 out, weakened from next
in touch, joined leaders 4 out, outpaced 2 out, soon ridden and weakened
led mistake 6th, headed 4 out, driven and outpaced 2 out, no extra approaching last
mid-division on inside, headway 2 out, ridden to chase winner last, lost 2nd and no extra flat
mid-division, headway 4 out, challenged on inside after 3 out, kept on and every chance until one pace flat
always behind, tailed off when pulled up 2 out
mid-division, outpaced 4 out, soon weakened
mid-division on outside, lost place 3 out, weakened next
in touch, driven and effort 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on well under pressure to press winner and every chance flat, just held
held up behind, headway 3 out, ridden to chase leaders next, kept on same pace, no impression
close up on outside, effort after 3 out, soon ridden and one pace, 6th and no impression when hit last
Nonrunner
At first glance this looks the most competitive contest on the card, with no fewer than 18 runners declared to face the starter for this handicap hurdle but BENSHABAR looked one to keep on the right side of, following a disappointing first effort over fences, when returned to timber and winning in good fashion at Sandown earlier this month and he can score again off a 7lb higher mark with the main dangers rated as Dee Ee Williams and Zabeel Palace. Barney Curley's gelding keeps on defying the handicapper and was scoring for the fourth time in his last five starts this term when successful here over two miles last time in November. The longer trip today should not inconvenience the eight-year-old but the slightly softer ground might and he may have to settle for minor honours. Nicky Henderson's Tasheba ran really well when chasing home Mamlook in a valuable contest over course and distance last month and he has claims but a 4lb rise for that run may anchor him. Chief Yeoman is held by the selection on running at Sandown, while Consigliere is probably better over fences than hurdles but David Pipe's gelding cannot be ruled out. Dee Ee Williams is decent over both hurdles and fences and, having lost no caste in defeat behind Binocular last time, has to be considered racing off what seems a fair mark but Beshabar has an obvious chance and is taken to win again.
Tasheba 20-1 (10-6) In touch, headway 3 out, led next, ridden and headed last, kept on, 2nd of 17, 2l behind Mamlook (10-1) at Ascot 2m 3f Ltd hcp hdl (1) sft in Jan.
El Dancer (GER) 4-1 (11-0) Tracked leader to 3rd, hit 8th, 4th and still well in touch when fell 4 out, in a race won by Woolcombe Folly (11-0) at Doncaster 2m nov chs Grd 2 (1) gs, 5 ran.
Beshabar (IRE) 10-1 (9-11) Held up in mid-division, headway to track leaders 8th, led before 2 out, clear when wandered approaching last, won at Sandown 2m 6f hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft beating Erzen (9-11) by 8l, 13 ran.
Mutual Friend (USA) 100-1 (11-0) Held up, in rear, struggling 3 out, tailed off, 15th of 23, 26l behind Get Me Out Of Here (10-6) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gs.
Ashkazar (FR) 12-1 (10-2) Held up towards rear, steady headway from 6th, chased leaders 3 out, challenged for 2nd before next, weakened before last, 6th of 13, 18l behind Beshabar (9-11) at Sandown 2m 6f hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft.
Dee Ee Williams (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) Tracked clear leader, close up 5th, led before 2 out, joined 2 out, soon headed , no chance with unextended winner, kept on, 2nd of 3, 1l behind Binocular (11-8) at Sandown 2m listed hdl (1) sft.
Secret Tune 40-1 (10-12) Raced wide in mid-division, reminders after 3rd, weakened approaching 3 out, 14th of 16, 37l behind Arctic Magic (10-2) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (2) sft in Jan.
Benfleet Boy 6-1 (11-11) Made all, driven out, won at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) hvy beating Novikov (11-4) by 1 1/4l, 8 ran.
Consigliere (FR) 7-2 (11-8) Disputing close 4th place until mistake and lost place 3rd, rallied to 2nd next, led soon after 3 out, kept on from last until headed and not pace of winner towards finish, 2nd of 7, 1 1/2l behind Russian Flag (10-9) at Sandown 2m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs.
Chief Yeoman 25-1 (10-0) Held up towards rear, headway after 3 out, chased winner 2 out, no impression when lost 2nd final 110 yards, 3rd of 13, 9l behind Beshabar (9-11) at Sandown 2m 6f hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft.
Midnight Sail 11-4 (11-6) Tracked leaders, led approaching 3 out, went right and not fluent last, edged right towards finish, ran on, won at Stratford 2m 6f nov hdl (3) gd in Apr beating The Falklander (11-0) by 2l, 11 ran.
Halla San 28-1 (11-3) Mistakes, always in rear, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Lie Forrit (11-8) at Newbury 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gs in Nov, 18 ran.
Zabeel Palace 9-4fav (10-3) Held up in touch, travelling well and headway bend approaching 2 out, soon chase leader, ridden to lead soon after last, stayed on readily, won at Ascot 2m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Nov beating Oldrik (10-7) by 3/4l, 12 ran.
Tender Falcon 25-1 (10-5) Chased leaders, mistake 1st, challenged 2 out, led soon after, headed well before last, chased leading pair, one pace and no impression when lost 3rd flat, 4th of 16, 9l behind Arctic Magic (10-2) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (2) sft in Jan.
Martys Mission (IRE) 50-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 4th, led 10th until after next, went 2nd 3 out, stayed on, no chance of winner from 2 out, 2nd of 4, 7l behind Punchestowns (11-1) at Newbury 2m 4f nov chs Grade 2 4yo+ (1) gs in Nov.
Majaales (USA) 7-2 (10-13) Chased leaders, led 2 out, ridden approaching last, no extra and headed towards finish, 2nd of 11, 3/4l behind Alfie Spinner (10-8) at Newbury 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) sft in Jan.
Lough Derg (FR) 10-1 (11-12) Led, reminders on paddock bend after 6th, clear and pushed along after 3 out, headed and weakened well before last, 7th of 13, 23l behind Beshabar (9-11) at Sandown 2m 6f hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft.
Souffleur 40-1 (10-5) In touch, ridden 2 out, kept on same pace approaching last, 4th of 17, 7l behind Mamlook (10-1) at Ascot 2m 3f Ltd hcp hdl (1) sft in Jan.
