mid-division, blundered 9th, ridden before 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before last
mid-division, headway before 4 out, ridden before last, no extra
in touch, lost place 5th, ridden before 3 out, weakened run-in
in rear, headway before 4 out, every chance 3 out, weakened from last
in rear, headway before 3 out, switched right before and led last, kept on well
tracked leaders, weakened from 3 out
close up, led 5 out, headed before 3 out, weakened from last
close up, led before 3 out, ridden and headed last, kept on
towards rear, mistake 9th, soon outpaced, headway from 3 out, kept on to take 2nd place towards finish, no chance with winner
led, headed 5 out, weakened before 3 out
LOCHNELL (NAP) was having only her fifth start over fences when scoring over the course and distance on heavy ground last month. She's 6lb higher but overcame mistakes and a better round of jumping can see her complete a double. Acdc won over the track and trip in November and started favourite for a better race at Newcastle a couple of weeks later but ran poorly. Lowanbehold stays extreme distances on testing ground as he showed when scoring over 4m at Hexham so he should make a bold bid to defy a 7lb rise while Finaghy Ayr, a stable companion of the selection, did very well to dead-heat for a better handicap than this at Carlisle and looks a major threat. Calivigny has yet to win over fences but has run his best races on this sort of going and is another to consider in an open handicap.
Un Noble (FR) 25-1 (12-0) Chased leaders, hit 4 out, weakened next, 8th of 11, 14 1/4l behind Jester Jet (11-5) at Perth 3m hcp (4) gd in May.
Acdc (IRE) 15-8fav (10-5) Always behind, weakened before 12th, 4th of 6, dist behind Lake View Lad (11-8) at Newcastle 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Anseanachai Cliste (IRE) 8-1 (9-10) Disputed lead early, not fluent 4th, tracked leaders after, slight mistake 14th, on terms again 5 out, headed 3 out, mistake 2 out, no extra, 7th of 14, dist behind Presenting Percy (11-10) at Fairyhouse 3m 5f hcp sft in Dec.
Calivigny (IRE) 8-1 (11-8) Mid-division, headway from 3 out, went 3rd from last, kept on to take 2nd place towards finish, no chance with winner, 2nd of 9, 6l behind Forest Des Aigles (11-12) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Lochnell (IRE) 7-1 (10-13) Behind, headway 5 out, challenged from 2 out, kept on to lead towards finish, won at Ayr 3m hcp (4) hvy in Dec beating Shanroe Street (11-3) by 2 1/2l, 10 ran.
Valzan (FR) 40-1 (11-10) In touch, ridden before 2 out, weakened before last, 7th of 10, 13l behind Lochnell (10-13) at Ayr 3m hcp (4) hvy in Dec.
Achill Road Boy (IRE) 3-1fav (10-13) Always towards rear, 5th of 10, 7l behind Lochnell (10-13) at Ayr 3m hcp (4) hvy in Dec.
Lowanbehold (IRE) 6-1 (10-5) Led until before 13th, with leader, led again 21st, clear from 2 out, finished tired, won at Hexham 4m hcp (4) hvy in Nov beating Moorlands Mist (10-8) by 6l, 6 ran.
Finaghy Ayr (IRE) 8-1 (10-4) Rear division, pushed along 11th and soon outpaced, headway from 3 out, kept on to lead close home, won at Carlisle 3m hcp (2) sft in Dec beating Nortonthorpelegend (11-5) by nk, 9 ran.
Presented (IRE) 7-1 (10-13) Chased leader, soon with leader, pushed along before 4 out, ridden before 2 out, one pace, 4th of 10, 6 1/4l behind Lochnell (10-13) at Ayr 3m hcp (4) hvy in Dec.