mid-division, headway to chase leaders halfway, went 2nd 4 out, led after next, clear before last, stayed on strongly
in touch, lost place 6th, under pressure 5 out, behind when pulled up before 2 out
held up in rear, headway to chase leaders 7th, blundered 4 out, went 2nd before 2 out, no chance with easy winner
with leader, never jumped well, lost place 5 out, rallied 2 out, no impression, modest 3rd
behind, struggling 8th, soon beaten, pulled up after 3 out
chased leaders, ridden to challenge 4 out, weakened after next
held up in rear, under pressure 8th, soon pulled up
tracked leaders, mistake 2nd, lost place halfway, rallied 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 2nd last
led, soon pressed, headed after 3 out, weakened quickly
Mission Complete has been struggling off lower marks over fences and doesn't look the force of old. Valleyofmilan has also been chasing but Dusky Bob won over hurdles at Hexham last month, only to disappoint next time at Carlisle. TURTLE CASK took advantage of a drop in the weights to score by 13 lengths over course and distance a couple of weeks ago. He's gone up 8lb for that but has ground conditions in his favour again and should take all the beating. Goodoldhonkytonk ran much better at Southwell last time and may be the danger.
Valleyofmilan (IRE) 17-2 (11-12) Held up in touch, headway before 5 out, ridden before 3 out, chased winner after last, always held, 2nd of 7, 1 3/4l behind Cyrien Star (11-4) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Goodoldhonkytonk (IRE) 12-1 (11-9) Held up and behind, pushed along after 3 out, headway before the last, kept on into 3rd run-in, nearest finish, 3rd of 11, 4 3/4l behind Not A Bother Boy (11-12) at Southwell 3m hcp (4) hvy in Dec.
Jumpandtravel (IRE) 7-2 (11-12) Chased leaders, outpaced in 4th before 3 out, no chance with leaders after, went remote 3rd before last, tailed off, 3rd of 6, dist behind Bears Rails (11-11) at Fakenham 3m hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Turtle Cask (IRE) 3-1 (10-9) Made most, driven clear from 2 out, stayed on well, comfortably, won at Catterick 3m 1f hcp (4) sft in Dec beating Blake Dean (10-9) by 13l, 5 ran.
Dusky Bob (IRE) 3-1 (11-7) In touch, ridden 4 out, soon weakened, 7th of 9, dist behind Courtown Oscar (11-11) at Carlisle 3m 1f hcp (4) hvy in Nov.
Mission Complete (IRE) 7-1 (11-10) Held up in touch, driven in 5th after 4 out, soon outpaced, modest 4th run-in, 4th of 8, 16l behind Kilcascan (11-4) at Southwell 3m 2f hcp (5) hvy in Dec.
Lawsons Thorns (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) Held up in last pair, struggling in rear after 8th, tailed off, 7th of 9, dist behind Steps And Stairs (11-8) at Southwell 3m hcp (5) gf in Aug.
Wee Jock Elliot 12-1 (11-1) Chased leader, reminder and lost place after 7th, behind from 4 out, soon weakened and pulled up, at Kelso 2m 7f hcp (5) hvy in Dec.
Be A Dreamer 7-2 (10-12) Led, headed before 3rd, chased winner, beaten from before 2 out, 2nd of 3, 23l behind Raise A Spark (10-12) at Sedgefield 2m 4f (4) hvy in Dec.
