held up, reminders after 9th, ridden 14th, soon struggling, tailed off from 15th
prominent, led 5 out, mistake 4 out, soon ridden, headed approaching 2 out, weakened flat
towards rear, headway 15th, in touch when blundered badly 4 out, not recover
led, headed 5 out, soon ridden, weakened flat
held up, ridden 13th, weakening when mistake next, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
prominent, ridden 17th, weakened after 4 out, pulled up before last
in touch, not fluent 12th, led approaching 2 out, ridden out
towards rear, mistake 13th, ridden 4 out, stayed on from 3 out, not reached leading pair
held up, headway 12th, close up and ridden 2 out, switched right approaching last, kept on flat
Millards Lad has been in fine form this season and ran well enough on his return following a three month break when chasing home Spring Lover at Ludlow last month to suggest that he could again figure in the finish here but preference is for An Accordion, with Martha's Kinsman rated the best of the remainder. The selection was pulled up on his reappearance at Ascot in November but David Pipe's horses were badly out of form at that time and the likelihood is that the lightly raced six-year-old is considerably better than he showed that day. The trip and ground offer no real problems and An Accordion is taken to resume winning ways here. Ballyfoy needs to improve on this season's form to trouble the judge, while Irish Raptor has not progressed from his Kelso success in September and is probably best watched at present. Peter Bowen's Always Waining probably has too much weight and a bigger threat is likely to come from Henry Daly's Martha's Kinsman, who has run to a respectable level of form on his return and is open to improvement. An Accordion could be different class to these though and he is preferred.
Always Waining (IRE) 20-1 (10-10) Mid-division until slightly lost place 16th, no danger after, 8th of 18, 29l behind Denman (11-12) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Dec.
Parsons Legacy (IRE) 9-1 (11-0) Mid-division, blundered badly 15th, soon ridden, headway after 3 out, stayed on, 5th of 16, 4 1/2l behind Over The Creek (10-4) at Cheltenham 3m 1f lst hcp chs (1) gd in Dec.
An Accordion (IRE) 5-2fav (10-2) Mid-division until hampered and dropped rear 3rd, reminders after 7th, lost touch quickly and pulled up at the 12th in race won by Harris Bay (10-7) at Ascot 3m hcp chs (2) gf in Nov, 9 ran.
Kandjar d'Allier (FR) 14-1 (11-4) Held up mid-division, hit 10th, soon outpaced, never on terms, 6th of 15, 28l behind Harmony Brig (10-12) at Newcastle 3m lst hcp chs (1) gs in Dec.
Ballyfoy (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, hit 10th, lost place 13th, rallied 15th, stayed on same pace from 3 out, 4th of 7, 22l behind Kilbeggan Blade (11-1) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft in Dec.
Maletton (FR) 16-1 (11-3) Blundered 1st, mid-division, mistake and lost place 12th, 8th of 13, 33l behind Hordago (10-1) at Cheltenham 3m amt hcp chs 0-140 (2) gd in Nov.
Irish Raptor (IRE) 8-1 (10-5) Held up, steady headway 14th, chased leaders approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 6th of 19, 44l behind Mr Pointment (11-5) at Aintree 3m 2f lst hcp chs (1) gs in Nov.
Martha's Kinsman (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) In touch, chased winner 18th, every chance 4 out, kept on one pace from 3 out, 4th of 11, 5l behind Tom Sayers (11-7) at Wincanton 3m 3f hcp chs 0-140 (2) gd in Oct.
Millards Lad (IRE) 9-2 (11-7) Held up, headway 16th, ridden when mistake 4 out, blundered badly 3 out, kept on flat, always held, 2nd of 11, 3 1/2l behind Spring Lover (10-11) at Ludlow 3m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Dec.
