in rear, never dangerous
held up towards rear and keen, hit 3rd, blundered 5th, weakened from 7th
with leaders and keen, led before 6th, headed 3 out, regained lead before 2 out, headed before last, kept on same pace
held up mid-division, weakened from 7th
tracked leaders, weakened after 3 out
always towards rear
held up towards rear, weakened from 7th
held up mid-division, blundered and unseated rider 3 out
led, headed approaching 6th, soon pushed along, weakened before 2 out
held up mid-division, headway before 2 out, chased winner last, kept on
tracked leader, pushed along after 3 out, soon lost place, kept on from 2 out
held up in touch, effort after 2 out, weakened after last
in touch, pushed along before 2 out, no impression before last
held up towards rear and keen, headway to go mid-division from 4th, chased leaders before 6th, led before last, kept on well
tracked leaders and keen, led 3 out, headed before 2 out, still every chance, one pace from last
mid-division, pushed along and weakened before 2 out
held up towards rear, pushed along and outpaced from 3 out, kept on from next
Knight Valliant's form figures suggest he is consistent enough though he was beaten a long way when runner-up at Hexham last time. I'm Your Man has been chasing but has stronger form over timber and doesn't appear badly treated. Optimum was punished with a 14lb rise after scoring over hurdles at Bangor in July while the ground was riding fast when Hoar Frost scored at Uttoxeter last summer for her only victory over timber. Mycenean Prince was in good form last summer and didn't run badly last time but this can go to BRIGHT SPARKY. Mick Easterby's charge has won a couple of races over timber and has been in fine form on the all-weather recently, scoring at Wolverhampton and twice finishing runner-up. Winter Alchemy and Dance Sauvage will get good rides from their talented young jockeys but will need to improve.
Optimum (IRE) 8-1 (11-6) Held up towards rear and keen, ridden before 3 out, never dangerous, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Douglas Julian (11-4) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Dec, 9 ran.
Ballamusic (IRE) 7-1 (10-11) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 9th, weakened approaching 2 out, 10th of 16, 27l behind Elusive Muse (10-7) at Taunton 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Apr.
A Stones Throw (NZ) 20-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, ridden 4 out, no impression, 7th of 14, 25l behind Lady Anne Nevill (10-0) at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs.
Hoar Frost 25-1 (11-1) Held up mid-division, weakened before 4 out, 6th of 14, 21l behind Lady Anne Nevill (10-0) at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs.
I'm Your Man 9-1 (10-6) Led to 6th, weakened before 3 out, last of 6, 46l behind Cranky Corner (11-2) at Sedgefield 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Jan.
Mrs Eff 11-1 (11-5) Held up in touch and raced wide, ridden and weakened after 3 out, 8th of 17, 29l behind Wor Rom (11-4) at Newcastle 3m cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft.
Knock Three Times (IRE) 33-1 (10-0) Always in rear, tailed off, 12th of 14, well behind Fujin Dancer (10-9) at Catterick 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs.
Final Veto 11-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, not fluent 2nd, weakened 7th, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Najca De Thaix (11-7) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Jan, 15 ran.
Mycenean Prince (USA) 16-1 (11-5) Towards rear, pushed along approaching 4th, soon weakened, 8th of 12, 24l behind Pagan Lightning (10-11) at Sedgefield 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-90 (5) sft.
Bright Sparky (GER) 9-1 (11-6) Held up towards rear, reminders 5th, weakened 5 out, tailed off, 5th of 7, well behind Mad Professor (9-9) at Southwell 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Apr.
Winter Alchemy (IRE) 7-2 (11-1) Mid-division, lost place 6th, ridden approaching 2 out, kept on from last, no impression, 4th of 10, 8l behind Bene Lad (11-9) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gd in Jan.
Ardesia (IRE) 28-1 (11-1) With leader early, ridden before 3 out, soon weakened, 13th of 16, 30l behind Shalambar (11-9) at Doncaster 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Jan.
Mardood 12-1 (10-6) Tracked leader, in 3rd and reminders after 4th, weakened from 6th, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Kings Guard (10-6) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Jan, 9 ran.
Knight Valliant 3-1fav (11-3) Tracked leaders, went 2nd approaching 5th, chased winner approaching last, no impression, 2nd of 8, 23l behind Rolecarr (11-4) at Hexham 2m hcp hdl 0-95 (5) hvy in Nov.
Dance Sauvage 12-1 (9-7) In touch in rear, headway approaching 7th, led next, not fluent and headed 3 out, not fluent 2 out, no impression on leaders approaching last, 3rd of 10, 10l behind Salpierre (11-3) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Nov.
Nick The Silver 10-1 (12-0) Ss; a wl bhnd, 7th of 10, 34l behind Anotherbuck (12-0) at Overton 3m ptp gs.
Still Royal 40-1 (11-4) Held up, mistake 4th, ridden next, soon weakened, 10th of 11, well behind Spice Bar (10-10) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) sft in Nov.
