held up towards rear, not fluent 6th, ridden and struggling after 9th, tailed off and pulled up before 13th
held up in last pair, tailed off when blundered 8th, headway into modest 4th after 3 out
slight lead but pressed, narrowly headed 14th, chased leader until next, chased leaders, weakened quickly after 3 out, tailed off and pulled up before next
held up towards rear, steady headway tracking leaders 8th, went 4th after 9th, very awkward 12th, 2nd and went left 15th, led after 3 out, clear when went left next, stayed on strongly, driven out
pressed leader, led narrowly 14th until after 3 out, chased winner until 2 out, soon no extra
never fluent in rear, tailed off and pulled up before 8th
held up, went prominent in chasing group 3rd, tracked clear leading pair after 9th, blundered next, went 2nd 2 out, held when jumped left last
sweating and edgy, raced wide, chased clear leading pair until after 9th, ridden and weakening when hit running rail after 10th, pulled up soon after
WHISKEY CHASER (NAP) is the only course and distance winner in the line-up though he finished virtually alone for that success in testing conditions in March. He ran well when second to the in-form Nortonthorpelegend at Ayr earlier this month and looks the safest option here. Drumviredy, a winning point-to-pointer and hurdler, will have found 2m3f too short at Fontwell a couple of weeks ago while African Gold has generally performed at a higher level after completing a four-timer over hurdles early in his career. The latter isn't in the best of form while the useful point-to-pointer Big Georgie makes a quick reappearance after struggling in a handicap at Exeter last week. Moorlands Mist has done much better over hurdles than fences which is why he's 18lb lower while Hollow Blue Sky was involved in the void race at Wincanton on Boxing Day when refusing twice after being left alone at the sixth.
Big Georgie (IRE) 28-1 (11-1) Led 1st until 2nd, stayed handy, not fluent 10th, pushed along 11th, lost place next, well beaten after next, 6th of 9, 29 3/4l behind Bindon Mill (11-2) at Exeter 3m hcp (4) sft in Jan.
African Gold (IRE) 13-2 (11-1) Held up in touch, pushed along and lost place approaching 12th, never on terms after, 7th of 9, 24 3/4l behind More Buck's (11-12) at Sandown 3m hcp (3) gd in Dec.
Whiskey Chaser (IRE) 11-2 (11-2) Led, ridden before 2 out, headed before last, kept on same pace, 2nd of 5, 7l behind Nortonthorpelegend (11-6) at Ayr 3m hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Drumviredy (IRE) 7-2 (11-2) Chased leader until 6th, chased leaders but pushed along, outpaced after 9th, left poor 4th before the last, 4th of 5, 34 3/4l behind Bishops Court (11-7) at Fontwell 2m 3f hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Moorlands Mist 9-2 (11-12) Behind, pushed along 6th, outpaced 5 out, headway 4 out, plugged on and never dangerous from next, 5th of 11, 6 1/2l behind Walk On Al (11-8) at Ffos Las 3m 1f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Nail 'm (IRE) 16-1 (10-3) Never going well towards rear, mistake 3rd, reminders before 7th, tailed off 16th, blundered and hampered 2 out, pulled up before the last, at Plumpton 3m 4f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Hollow Blue Sky (FR) 7-1 (11-10) Close up, led 2nd, blundered 6 out, headed 5 out, ridden before 4 out, weakened after last, 6th of 11, 9l behind Walk On Al (11-8) at Ffos Las 3m 1f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Herr Larry Hewis 28-1 (10-3) Keen early, tracked leaders, left 2nd briefly 9th, struggling in 3rd when ridden before 5 out, tailed off, 3rd of 5, dist behind Winged Crusader (11-12) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
