mid-division, mistake 3rd, struggling 10th, behind next, pulled up before 3 out
led 1st, mistake and headed 3rd, chased leader, left in lead 10th, soon headed, lost 2nd 2 out, no extra in 3rd last
led until 1st, chased leaders, not fluent 6th, mistake 12th, ridden before 3 out, no extra 2 out
held up in touch, outpaced after 4 out, well beaten before 3 out
mid-division, closed 4th, struggling after 4 out
held up, pushed along after 4 out, no impression before 3 out
prominent, led after 10th, 5 lengths clear 2 out, headed last, held flat, stayed on
prominent on inside, blundered and unseated rider 3rd
behind, headway when fell 11th
held up towards rear, headway after 4 out, went 5 lengths 2nd 2 out, led last, stayed on well flat
held up towards rear, not fluent 6th, headway 12th, no extra 2 out
tracked leaders, led 3rd, hit 10th, slithered badly and unseated rider 10th
Top Beak completed a Fakenham double over hurdles in May but has never raced over fences. Thelongwayaround's best run over fences came over this trip at Newcastle but Path To Freedom, nine times a winner between the flags, is 0-13 over regulation fences. Wind surgery appears to have done the trick for BALRANALD, who stayed on strongly to score over the trip at Sedgefield, and a 5lb rise looks manageable. Irish point-to-point winner Melanamix looked to be getting her act together at Ayr and Whitechurch overcame a bad mistakes to finish a close third at Ludlow, though may need further. Zen Master's Sedgefield victory came on good ground and he didn't run as well on softer going back there next time.
Top Beak (IRE) 50-1 (11-11) Towards rear, not fluent 3rd, weakened after 4 out, pulled up before 3 out, at Ludlow 2m hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Barnay 16-1 (11-11) Midfield, ridden 2 out, no extra, 8th of 13, 22 1/2l behind Rollerruler (10-10) at Hexham 2m hcp (5) gs in Nov.
Chesterville (IRE) 17-2 (11-9) Keen blundered 1st, disputed lead until headed 5th, hampered and brought down 11th, at Musselburgh 2m 6f hcp (5) gs in Dec.
Thelongwayaround (IRE) 2-1 (10-6) Held up, pushed along after 14th, struggling in rear home turn, off pace when fell 2 out, at Wetherby 3m hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Path To Freedom (IRE) 7-2 (10-12) Prominent, not fluent 11th, pushed along briefly 12th, ridden 4 out, detached 3 out, weakened, 7th of 8, 36 1/2l behind Classical Milano (10-2) at Hexham 3m hcp (4) gd in Jun.
Balranald (FR) 9-1 (10-12) In rear, headway into 2nd after 4 out, pushed and ridden after 3 out, stayed on powerfully to join leader last, led close home, won at Sedgefield 2m 3f hcp (5) gd in Nov beating Aire Valley Lad (11-0) by 1l, 5 ran.
Melanamix (IRE) 9-1 (11-2) Held up, headway 3 out, ridden next, stayed on one pace, 3rd of 10, 7 1/2l behind Rapid Raider (10-7) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp (5) gs in Nov.
Whitechurch (IRE) 5-1 (10-11) Jumped left in rear, mistake 1st, hit 9th, closed when not fluent 13th, blundered 3 out, chance after last, 3rd and no extra towards finish, 3rd of 8, 1 3/4l behind Family Pot (10-12) at Ludlow 3m hcp (5) gd in Nov.
Zen Master (IRE) 13-2 (10-5) Raced keenly in rear, effort and headway to go 4th 3 out, soon ridden and stayed on one pace, 4th of 11, 17 3/4l behind Cilluirid (11-10) at Sedgefield 2m 3f hcp (5) gs in Nov.
Spot On Soph (IRE) 9-1 (10-0) Held up, ridden and outpaced before 3 out, rallied and made eye catching headway before 2 out, kept on before final fence, fell at last, at Catterick 2m 3f hcp (5) gd in Nov.
Madam Scully 40-1 (10-0) Prominent, chased along and headed before 3 out, soon weakened and lost further ground before 2 out, 7th of 10, 23 1/4l behind Barden Bella (10-0) at Catterick 2m hcp (5) sft in Dec.
Marias Lad (FR) 250-1 (11-4) Towards rear, not fluent 3rd, mistake 6 out, detached 4 out, tailed off, pulled up, at Ffos Las 2m 4f mdn (4) sft in Nov.
