tracked leading pair, led 8th, bumped next, headed 15th, led again before hit 3 out, 3 lengths ahead at the last, hard ridden run-in, headed towards finish
in touch in 5th, blundered and pecked 9th, blundered and fell 11th
in rear, jumped slowly 12th, tailed off 4 out, pulled up before next
chased leaders, pushed along in well held 4th before 3 out, headway out wide when mistake next, soon ridden and went 3rd between last two, went 3 lengths 2nd at the last, driven and closed run-in, led towards finish
last pair, tailed off when bad mistake 20th, went badly left 2 out, never involved
tracked leaders in 5th, pushed along and struggling before 17th, tailed off
led until 8th, chased leader, led again 15th, pushed along and headed before 3 out, lost 2nd soon after 3 out, ridden and weakened next
chased leader until 8th, handy 3rd, mistake 10th, went 2nd again after 3 out until the last, no extra in 3rd
William Of Orange has gone right off the boil since just touched at Cartmel in May when 6lb higher. Chef D'Oeuvre may not quite be the force of old but he is 4lb lower than when scoring over 3m4f at Haydock last season and can probably be forgiven his latest run on bottomless ground at the Lancashire track. Only eight, SIDI ISMAEL has won four of his last five races over hurdles and fences. He’s gone up another 8lb but can complete a National double having won the Lincolnshire version at Market Rasen on Boxing Day. Mance Rayder, second here in November, stays well and looks best of the rest.
Almazhar Garde (FR) 14-1 (11-12) Soon in clear lead, hit 9th, bad mistake 16th, jumped right 19th, reduced lead 5 out, ridden before 2 out, headed after 2 out, weakening when blundered badly last, 7th of 13, 33 1/4l behind Big River (11-9) at Kelso 4m hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Sidi Ismael (FR) 9-2 (11-12) Tracked leader, made headway to join leaders at 3 out, ridden and came to lead at 2 out, kept on after final fence, won gamely, won at Market Rasen 3m 4f hcp (3) sft in Dec beating Cash To Ash (11-7) by 3 3/4l, 10 ran.
William Of Orange 22-1 (11-13) In rear, bad mistake 9th, reminders after 10th, struggling thereafter, pulled up after 5 out, at Doncaster 3m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Supreme Escape (IRE) 18-1 (10-0) Held up, ridden before 5 out, no impression, finished tailed off, 9th of 10, dist behind Iwilldoit (10-6) at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Chef D'Oeuvre (FR) 7-2 (10-5) Led until 2nd, led 9th, mistake 14th, well beaten after 18th, pulled up before 3 out, at Haydock 3m 4f hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
Mance Rayder (IRE) 9-1 (10-0) Raced wide, held up in last pair, went right 12th, outpaced next, tailed off, 6th of 7, 33 1/4l behind Two For Gold (11-12) at Doncaster 3m hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Classic Escape (IRE) 12-1 (11-3) Chased leader, driven along and lost 2nd after 4 out, chased leaders, ridden and weakened before next, 5th of 8, 33 1/2l behind Quick Draw (11-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 7f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Who's In The Box (IRE) 10-1 (11-0) Raced in mid-division, ridden and outpaced before 3 out, made no impression, 5th of 10, 14 3/4l behind Sidi Ismael (11-12) at Market Rasen 3m 4f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
