handy, led after 4 out, pushed along and pressed after 3 out, headed 2 out, ridden after last and one pace
mid-division, ridden home turn, gradually weakened before 2 out
towards rear, not fluent 4 out, soon tailed off
mid-division, pushed along before 2 out, soon chased leaders, kept on, no impression after last
front mid-division , ridden after 4 out, weakened before 3 out
towards rear, ridden home turn, soon beaten
rear mid-division, headway to chase front group 7th, went 2nd before 3 out, ridden and led narrowly 2 out, ran on well but headed final 110 yards, kept on
in rear, headway into mid-division 4 out, ridden 3 out, weakened 2 out, mistake last
chased leaders, ridden and weakened 3 out
prominent, lost ground and pushed along 7th, soon beaten
led, headed after 4 out, pushed along before 3 out, weakened tamely
in rear, always struggling, pulled up before 3 out
chased leaders, ridden and pressed leaders 3 out, every chance last, stayed on, no extra towards finish
rear mid-division, headway to chase front rank after 4 out, pushed along before 3 out, pressed leaders 2 out, ridden before last, led 110 yards out on run-in, stayed on gamely
Leading novice chaser Ahoy Senior won this last year on the way to Grade 1 glory at Aintree and many of these are likely to prove effective over fences in time, especially winning pointers Your Own Story and Gaillimh A Stor. The latter is trained by Nick Alexander, who also runs the mare Charm Offensive who has proved expensive to follow. The Flier Begley, placed between the flags and in bumpers, comes over from Ireland off the back of a debut fourth over timber in a Navan maiden. Storm Tiger has hinted at ability and so has Fame Valley but GEORDIES DREAM is less exposed and, after a staying-on third over 2m at Newcastle, is sure to appreciate this extra half-mile. Sporty Jim should make a hurdler and looks best of the rest.
Benack (IRE) 18-1 (10-12) Towards rear, ridden after 6th, very remote 5th before 3 out, went 4th but no chance latter stages, 4th of 9, 35l behind Rafferty's Return (10-12) at Newcastle 2m 4f (4) sft in Jan.
Fame Valley (IRE) 11-4 (11-1) Raced keenly, waited with in rear, smooth headway out wide before 3 out, went 2nd 2 out, looked to hold every chance last, ridden and stayed on same pace towards finish, 2nd of 5, 1l behind Cellar Vie (10-9) at Ayr 2m hcp (4) hvy in Jan.
Fast Scenic (FR) 11-1 (11-4) Always in rear, never involved, last of 6, dist behind Feivel (11-4) at Hexham 2m 4f mdn (4) hvy in Dec.
Gaillimh A Stor (IRE) 6-1 (12-2) Chsd ldr, 1l 2nd 1/2way, cl 2nd 2out, brfly drpd to cl 3rd bef last, kow flat & ld final strides, won at Moig South 3m mdn sft in Nov beating Gladiatus (12-2) by nk, 10 ran.
Geordies Dream 5-2 (11-4) Tracked leaders, pushed along 3 out, ridden next, kept on one pace, 3rd of 11, 9 1/4l behind Lupus Regem (11-4) at Newcastle 2m mdn (4) gs in Dec.
Heritier De Sivola (FR) 4-1 (11-6) Mid-div, prog to 4th 1/2way, rdn aftr 4out in 6th, went 5th aftr 3out, remote 4th 2out, ko smepce bhnd, 4th of 10, 24l behind Path D'oroux (11-11) at Borris House 3m mdn sft in Dec.
Mount Melleray (IRE) 9-1 (11-8) Led, slow 1st, prominent, mistake 5 out, ridden 4 out, no extra, 4th of 13, 18 3/4l behind Lord Roco (11-8) at Newcastle 2m 4f mdn (4) gs in Jan.
So Many Roads 25-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, soon hung left and weakened, 5th of 7, 22 1/2l behind Forpaddytheplumber (11-0) at Haydock 2m (4) hvy in Dec.
Sporty Jim (IRE) 3-1 (11-0) Chased winner until over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 3rd of 7, 13 1/4l behind Forpaddytheplumber (11-0) at Haydock 2m (4) hvy in Dec.
Storm Tiger 9-2 (10-12) In rear, headway towards outside 2 out, no impression, weakened flat, 5th of 6, 18 1/4l behind Stolen Money (11-2) at Haydock 3m hcp (4) hvy in Dec.
The Flier Begley (IRE) 5-1 (12-0) Led, jumped badly right at 5th, jumped right at 7th and 8th, ridden and headed 3 out, dropped to 4th approaching last, no extra, 4th of 19, 7l behind Jaycean (12-0) at Navan 2m 4f mdn Yielding in Jan.
The Real Rascal (IRE) 150-1 (11-0) Mid-division, behind final 5f, tailed off, last of 13, dist behind Kracka Nut (11-0) at Catterick 2m (5) gs in Dec.
Your Own Story (IRE) 3-1 (12-2) Ww twrds rr, 5th 1/2way, prog in 4th bef 3out, went 3rd aftr 2out, led on outer with 2l adv bef last, kow flat, won at Moig South 3m sft in Nov beating Three Loud Knocks (12-2) by 4l, 8 ran.
Charm Offensive (FR) 13-2 (11-7) Chased leaders, not fluent 2nd, 3rd and beaten before last, stayed on same pace, 4th of 6, 8 1/4l behind Stolen Money (11-2) at Haydock 3m hcp (4) hvy in Dec.
Jet Legs (IRE) 6-1 (11-11) Chsd lsrs, 3rd from 4th, cl 4th from 6out, slipped up on bend aftr 4out, at Dromahane 3m mdn gd in Nov.
