chased leaders, lost place 7th, towards rear and pulled up before 2 out (normal 3 out)
led until headed before 2nd, lost 2nd before 5th, chased leaders, weakened before 3 out (normal 4 out) tailed off
towards rear of mid-division when badly hampered and unseated rider 7th
held up towards rear, steady headway before 2 out (normal 3 out) pushed along chasing leaders in 3rd home turn, weakened extended run-in
chased leader, led before 2nd, made rest, went clear 3 out (normal 4 out) reduced lead bypassing omitted last, stayed on strongly, driven out
tracked leaders, went 2nd at 5th, ridden and plugged on in 3rd extended run-in
held up towards rear, closer out wide in mid-division at 3rd, fell 7th
held up off the pace in last pair, never a factor
held up towards rear, steady headway turning in, ridden on inside and stayed on extended run-in, just held
soon off the pace in rear, never involved
chased leaders, went 2nd briefly bypassing omitted last, weakened extended run-in
mid-division, closer on inside chasing leaders 4th, weakened home turn
NonRunner
PADLEYOUROWNCANOE (NAP) hasn’t won over hurdles since the end of 2018 but is a potential blot on the handicap in this having been dropped a massive 12lb since last in action over the smaller obstacles. On The Blind Side usually runs against stronger opposition while Ernesto and Sidi Ismael are recent winners. Fontana Ellissi was second here last month but is trying a new trip with the in-form Shearer making more appeal given the second has franked the form of his win in novice company here three weeks ago. Punxsutawney Phil may be the pick of the remainder though a 4lb rise for finishing third at Worcester looks harsh.
On The Blind Side (IRE) Evensfav (11-0) Tracked winner, pushed along after 3 out, lost 2nd and weakened before 2 out, last of 4, 19 1/4l behind Top Ville Ben (11-0) at Lingfield 2m 7f (2) hvy in Jan.
Lisnagar Oscar (IRE) 10-1 (11-9) Prominent, slow jump and lost place 9th, weakened quickly and pulled up, at Cheltenham 3m hcp (2) gd in Apr.
Shearer (IRE) 10-3 (11-5) Held up in touch in rear, closed 6th, 2nd 2 out, switched left before last, led flat, stayed on well, ridden out, won at Cheltenham 3m (2) gd in Oct beating Twig (11-0) by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
Zoffanien (IRE) 16-1 (10-1) Towards rear, pushed along over 3f out, ridden in 11th 2f out, kept on without threatening final furlong, 6th of 15, 6 1/4l behind White Caviar (9-10) at Gowran Park 1m 4f hcp sft in Oct.
Annual Invictus (IRE) 3-1 (11-11) Held up in rear, not fluent 2nd and 3rd, ridden after 4th, took closer order next, ridden and dropped towards rear before 9th, struggling when pulled up before next, at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in May.
Sidi Ismael (FR) 9-1 (12-2) Prominent, led before 3 out, pushed along after 2 out, stayed on well, always doing enough, won at Worcester 2m 7f hcp (4) sft in Oct beating Gentleman Valley (11-2) by 3 1/4l, 7 ran.
Padleyourowncanoe 11-2 (10-11) Mid-division, not fluent 15th or 18th and soon behind, ridden in last 3 out, beaten well before 2 out, 4th of 7, 30 1/4l behind Captain Cattistock (10-8) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp (2) gd in Apr.
Forecast 10-1 (11-8) Held up in last, went 3rd from 2 out, went 2nd final bend, no impression and mistake last, 2nd of 4, 12l behind Isthebaropen (11-4) at Stratford 2m 6f hcp (3) gd in Aug.
Fontana Ellissi (FR) 22-1 (10-2) Held up in mid-division, headway after 2 out, went 2nd flat, stayed on, no impression on winner, 2nd of 13, 5 1/2l behind Seddon (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Ernesto (GER) 11-4 (11-7) Close up in 4th, went 3rd 2 out, ridden and headway to lead last, driven out, won at Hereford 3m 2f hcp (4) gf in Oct beating Jen's Boy (11-7) by nk, 4 ran.
Punxsutawney Phil (IRE) 3-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, ridden before 2 out, kept on, no impression, 3rd of 7, 6l behind Sidi Ismael (12-2) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp (4) sft in Oct.
Valentino 11-4 (10-3) Prominent, led approaching 2 out, headed 2 out, headway to join winner when not fluent last, rallied well flat, just held, 2nd of 6, nk behind Umbrigado (12-0) at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Jatiluwih (FR) 11-2 (11-7) Not always fluent, tracked leaders, closed 5th, slow next, lost place 12th, closed 16th, chased winner 5 out, no impression from 4 out, bad mistake and lost 2nd 2 out, 3rd of 7, 19 1/2l behind Quick Wave (11-5) at Ludlow 3m 2f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
