led, clear approaching 4th, hit 3 out, headed approaching 2 out, soon weakened
tracked leader, led approaching 2 out, headed flat, kept on and edged left, just held towards finish
held up towards rear, not fluent 1st, never dangerous
held up mid-division, lost place from 4th, tailed off from 6th, pulled up before 2 out
held up mid-division, weakened from 6th
held up towards rear, pushed along 7th, some headway next, soon weakened
towards rear, headway 6th, in 4th and going well when brought down last
held up mid-division, headway after 3 out, ridden to challenge approaching last, led flat, just held on
held up in touch, pushed along and outpaced from 3 out, plugged on to take 4th after last
held up towards rear, weakened after 3 out
chased leaders, not fluent 1st, every chance and a close 3rd when fell last
tracked leaders, weakened after 2 out, left 3rd after last
held up mid-division, pushed along after 7th, soon struggling
held up towards rear, ridden 3 out, never dangerous
chased leaders, weakened approaching 6th
held up towards rear, pushed along after 5th, weakened before next
Neptune Equester is a very progressive staying chaser who landed a Listed handicap at Wetherby in October. This will be his first ever start over timber and he should go well. Stablemate Lethal Glaze makes his debut over jumps and looks the type to make a hurdler but this can go to RIVAL D'ESTRUVAL. Pauline Robson's charge showed some promise in an Aintree bumper in May and made a very satisfactory start over hurdles when runner-up to Yurok at Carlise in October where he looked as though the experience would do him good. He receives 7lb from the two recent winners, Carpincho and Moon Indigo, and bigger threats may emerge in the shape of Caesar's Return and Chocolate Caramel, who both produced good efforts on their latest starts.
Carpincho (FR) 2-9fav (10-12) Made all and keen, clear from 3 out, unchallenged, won at Sedgefield 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Nov beating Kalulushi (10-12) by 46l, 12 ran.
Moon Indigo 11-8fav (10-12) Tracked leaders, hit 3rd, led approaching 3 out, not fluent 2 out, held on towards finish, driven out, won at Wetherby 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Nov beating Bless The Wings (10-12) by nk, 14 ran.
A Patchy Dancer (IRE) 25-1 (10-9) Raced keenly, led to over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, last of 6, 37l behind Charminster (11-0) at Haydock 2m NH flat (3) gs in Nov.
Beano Boy 100-1 (10-12) Held up in touch, struggling 6th, soon ridden and lost touch, tailed off, 6th of 7, well behind Weetfromthechaff (10-9) at Hexham 2m nh nov hdl (4) gf in Jun.
Ceasar's Return 11-1 (10-12) Held up in touch, mistake 3rd, soon lost place, rallied after 4th, went 3rd approaching last, stayed on well to go 2nd flat, not able to reach winner, 2nd of 11, 1l behind Blenheim Brook (10-12) at Hexham 2m NH nov hdl 4-6yo (4) hvy in Nov.
Chocolate Caramel (USA) 13-2 (11-0) Held up, in touch approaching 7th, ridden to chase winner from 2 out, not fluent last, every chance flat, stayed on, held towards finish, 2nd of 6, 3/4l behind Jago River (11-0) at Musselburgh 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gd in Nov.
Cygnet 50-1 (10-11) Raced keenly, mid-division on inside, chased leaders 3 out, kept on same pace from next, no impression, 6th of 16, 15l behind Ballybriggan (11-0) at Aintree 2m mdn hdl (3) gs in Oct.
Lethal Glaze (IRE) 33-1 (8-6) Mid-division on outside, outpaced 3f out, never on terms, 13th of 22, 13l behind Times Up (8-13) at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp (2) gs in Nov (flat).
Neptune Equester 15-8fav (11-9) Held up in rear, progress 11th, ridden to chase winner 3 out, held when fell last, in a race won by Quinder Spring (10-0) at Market Rasen 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Nov, 5 ran.
Night In Milan (IRE) 11-1 (10-12) In rear, jumped gig, 4th, struggling 7th, tailed off, 8th of 16, well behind Jurisdiction (11-12) at Kelso 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Nov.
Omokoroa (IRE) 12-1 (9-8) In touch in mid-division, headway 3f out, ridden well over 1f out, weakened entering final furlong, 15th of 18, 22l behind Ashbrittle (9-10) at Doncaster 1m 7f hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Oct (flat).
Rival D'Estruval (FR) 11-2 (10-12) Held up mid-division on outer, chased leaders 7th, led 2 out, soon ridden, headed flat, kept on, 2nd of 17, 2l behind Yurok (10-7) at Carlisle 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Oct.
Steel Edge (IRE) 66-1 (11-0) Mid-division, hampered and lost place 4th, no danger after, 9th of 16, 37l behind Ballybriggan (11-0) at Aintree 2m mdn hdl (3) gs in Oct.
Tinseltown 33-1 (9-3) Chased leaders early, soon lost place and pushed along on outside in rear, headway on wide outside halfway, chased leaders over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 14, 13l behind Tomintoul Star (9-0) at Southwell 1m mdn hcp 0-60 (6) fbs in Jul (flat).
Twice Lucky 40-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders in 4th and keen, pushed along approaching 3 out, soon weakened, in 8th when fell 2 out, in a race won by Carpincho (10-12) at Sedgefield 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Nov, 12 ran.
Mrs Eff 22-1 (10-10) Tracked leaders, pushed along 7th, outpaced 3 out in 4th, left 3rd next, no impression, 3rd of 8, 19l behind Dorabelle (11-2) at Sedgefield 2m 4f cond mrs nov hdl (4yo+) (4) sft in Nov.
