in touch, lost place 8th, weakened 5 out
in rear, fell 4th
mid-division, headway after 13th, ridden to chase leaders, weakened 4out
with leader, led 8th, headed 10th, weakened 4out
towards rear and keen, joined leader 6th, ridden and weakened 4out
led after 2nd, headed and jumped slowly 8th, led again 10th, ridden 2 out, ran on
mid-division, ridden 11th, weakening when mistake 5 out, pulled up before the next
held up towards rear, mistake 9th, headway on inside 12th, ridden to chase leader 3 out, weakened flat
in touch, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, kept on one pace flat
towards rear, mistake 9th, behind from 12th
led, headed after 2nd, weakened after 6th, pulled up before 8th
Up The Pub ran too badly to be true at Wetherby last month and has to be respected but Robert Alner's gelding is hard to recommend following that run and it may be worth taking a chance with Milan Deux Mille, who gets the vote ahead of Back In Business. The last mentioned looked beaten when falling on his return and British debut at Lingfield recently but can be expected to do better than that given trainer Evan Williams has a fine record with other people's cast offs. Cinnamon Line, a fifth fence faller on his reappearance, is hard to back with any confidence, while Tank Buster may find this coming too soon after a grueling contest at Towcester recently. Ironside disappointed at Towcester last time and is another that may be best watched and a chance is taken with David Pipe's Milan Deux Mille, who may improve for the step up in trip and receives a handy weight for age allowance.
Victory Gunner (IRE) 25-1 (10-0) Mid-division, not fluent 3rd, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Bob Bob Bobbin (11-11) at Bangor 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Nov, 13 ran.
Kilbready Boy (IRE) 7-2 (11-11) Held up, headway 6th, close 4th when went lame and pulled up 4 out in race won by Lord Anner (11-12) at Exeter 2m 7f nov hts chs (H) gd in Apr '05, 13 ran.
Cinnamon Line 9-1 (11-9) Behind, reminder after 5th and fell at the 5th in race won by Bay Island (11-10) at Towcester 2m 6f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Nov, 9 ran.
Up The Pub (IRE) 7-4fav (11-6) Held up in touch, pushed along halfway, weakened 15th and pulled up 5 out in race won by Celtic Flow (10-0) at Wetherby 3m 5f hcp chs (4) gd in Nov, 8 ran.
Milan Deux Mille (FR) 9-4fav (10-9) Led to 9th, weakened 3 out, 6th of 9, 19l behind Golden Duck (10-11) at Warwick 2m hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Nov.
Ironside (IRE) 5-2fav (10-12) Prominent, ridden 6th, losing place when pulled up 5 out in race won by Carnt Spell (10-5) at Towcester 2m 3f chs 0-95 (5) sft in Nov, 10 ran.
Blue Rising 14-1 (11-4) Behind from halfway, tailed off 3 out, 10th of 14, well behind Villago (11-2) at Sedgefield 2m 5f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (E) gs in Nov '05.
Back In Business (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) In touch, went 2nd 4 out, 4th and looked beaten when fell 4 out in race won by The Hardy Boy (10-2) at Lingfield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-90 (5) gs in Nov, 15 ran.
Surefast 9-1 (10-3) Never going well in rear, driven along from 6th, tailed off when refused and unseated rider 8th unseated rider at the 8th in race won by Tallow Bay (9-11) at Plumpton 3m 2f amt hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Feb, 8 ran.
Tank Buster 33-1 (10-10) Held up rear, mistake 7th, headway 10th, ridden to chase leaders 4 out, chased winner 2 out, all out, 2nd of 13, 4l behind Apple Joe (9-11) at Towcester 3m hcp chs 0-100 (4) sft in Nov.
Shoulton (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) In touch when fell at the 3rd in race won by Merry Storm (10-9) at Hereford 3m 1f hcp chs 0-88 (5) sft in Jan, 16 ran.
