held up in mid-division, headway 4th, went 2nd 7th until ridden before 2 out, soon beaten, weakened last
held up towards rear, headway 4 out, went 3rd 2 out, no impression last, one pace
pressed leader until 7th, ridden and struggling after next, well behind before 4 out, soon pulled up
tracked leaders, switched right before 6th, not fluent 9th, bad mistake 4 out, unable to recover and pulled up before next
held up in rear, headway when not fluent and hampered 4 out, ridden when mistake 2 out, no impression, no extra last
tracked leaders, not fluent 5th, hit 4 out, went 2nd when jumped left 2 out, stayed on flat, unable to trouble winner
made all, ridden 3 lengths clear 2 out, stayed on well
Astracad was third in this last year but gave the impression that he finds 2m on the short side nowadays when well behind first and second, Bold Henry and Sew On Target, here last month. That pair have to go on the short-list again but KARINGA DANCER, who unseated his rider in the same race, might be worth another chance as he had his excuses and that was the first time he'd failed to complete over fences. Solar Impulse had every chance when second at Newbury two weeks ago and has gone up 5lb since while this wouldn't be Parsnip Pete's favourite course. Kie and Fair Dilemma need some help from the handicapper.
Parsnip Pete 16-1 (11-8) Held up in 5th, went 4th 8th, blundered 3 out, soon driven and weakened, eased before next, soon pulled up, in a race won by Croco Bay (10-8) at Ascot 2m 1f hcp chs (2) sft in Nov, 10 ran.
Karinga Dancer 11-1 (11-12) Towards rear, hampered 2nd, headway after 4 out, staying on when blundered and unseated rider next, in a race won by Bold Henry (10-6) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft in Nov, 19 ran.
Fair Dilemma (IRE) 20-1 (11-3) Raced keenly, chased leader, challenged 7th, led before 8th, headed 4 out, chased winner, driven and well held after 3 out, mistake and lost 2nd 2 out, weakened between last two, 7th of 10, 46l behind Croco Bay (10-8) at Ascot 2m 1f hcp chs (2) sft in Nov.
Solar Impulse (FR) 9-4 (11-2) Chased leaders, 3rd 3 out, 2nd soon after 2 out, driven and kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 8, 2 1/4l behind Monetaire (10-9) at Newbury 2m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft in Nov.
Bold Henry 14-1 (10-6) Behind, blundered 3rd, headway on inside 4 out, soon tracked leaders, effort 2 out, switched right before last, ridden flat, stayed on well to lead towards finish, won at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft in Nov beating Sew On Target (10-11) by 2 1/4l, 19 ran.
Astracad (FR) 9-1 (11-4) Towards rear, headway into mid-division 9th, hampered 3 out, soon outpaced, no impression before next, 7th of 19, 23l behind Bold Henry (10-6) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft in Nov.
Sew On Target (IRE) 20-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, smooth headway 3 out, upsides next, led last, ridden flat, kept on until no extra and headed towards finish, 2nd of 19, 2 1/4l behind Bold Henry (10-6) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft in Nov.
Kie (IRE) 40-1 (10-5) Led, clear 8th until 10th, headed before 4 out, weakening when mistake 2 out, 8th of 12, 43l behind Wishfull Thinking (11-8) at Aintree 2m 4f ltd hcp chs Grd 2 (1) gd in Oct.
