mid-division after 2nd, jumped right 4th, weakened 13th, tailed off 5 out, soon pulled up
not fluent, held up in mid-division, behind 8th, pulled up before next
held up in rear, mistake 6th and 12th, well behind before 5 out, pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, slow 2nd, struggling when mistake 13th, pulled up before 5 out
in touch, led before 3 out, not fluent 2 out, headed towards finish, kept on
led until after 2nd, led next, headed 6th, led after 8th, headed before 3 out, weakened 2 out
in touch, slow 3rd, weakened before 5 out
mid-division, mistake 9th, mistake and lost place 10th, not fluent 11th, well behind before 5 out
tracked leaders, closed 5 out, every chance last, lost 2nd flat, kept on
held up in mid-division, not fluent 1st, headway after 13th, 3rd before 3 out, stayed on flat, led towards finish
prominent, led after 2nd, lost a few places 5th, ridden after 13th, weakened 5 out, pulled up before 3 out
always towards rear
in touch in mid-division after 2nd, mistake 4th and 13th, blundered 4 out, well beaten 4th from 2 out
behind, tailed off 10th, pulled up after
towards rear, headway after 13th, hit 5 out, weakened 4 out
prominent, led 6th, headed before 8th, ridden before 5 out, weakened from 4 out
Ector showed some improvement after wind surgery when second at Ffos Las. He holds Sustainable Star on that run but never looked like catching the winner, who is trained by Venetia Williams who runs COLD AS ICE in this. The yard won this last year and the top weight will almost certainly make a better chaser than hurdler, despite showing ability over the smaller obstacles. Bignorm is another worth a market check returning from an absence while Tanrudy won at Market Rasen in November, though is still 6lb higher. The Manuscript could also figure in first-time blinkers.
Cold As Ice (FR) 10-1 (11-11) In touch on outside, lost place 4 out, soon behind, tailed off next, 12th of 18, dist behind Espalion (11-10) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in Apr.
Fair Exchange (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Prominent, led before 3rd, hit 8th, headed next, led 10th, headed 4 out, 4th and struggling when blundered last, weakened after, 4th of 12, 31 3/4l behind Dee Star (11-12) at Cartmel 2m 5f mdn (5) gs in May.
Hidden Cargo (IRE) 9-4 (12-0) A bhnd; t.o & pu 15, at Knightwick 3m gf in Apr.
Lady Kingsmill 100-1 (10-10) Raced wide, chased leaders, went 2nd approaching 3rd until before 2 out, chased leaders, weakened between last 2, 5th of 11, 13 1/2l behind Martha Brae (10-10) at Fontwell 2m 3f (4) sft in Dec.
Bill And Barn (IRE) 28-1 (10-8) Made most to 8th, with leader, reminder and lost place after 14th, weakened before 4 out, pulled up before next, at Exeter 3m 7f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Tanrudy (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) With winner, led from 2nd, headed 6th, ridden before 3 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 7, 5 1/4l behind Flaminger (12-4) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp (4) hvy in Dec.
Steel Express (IRE) 12-1 (11-9) Led, slow 1st, headed 5th, ridden after 8th, weakened before 2 out, 8th of 11, 20 1/2l behind Telson Barley (11-9) at Warwick 3m 1f hcp (4) gd in May.
Blazing Tom 10-1 (10-6) Made most to 10th, lost place 5 out, soon lost touch, tailed off next, plugged on to take remote 3rd near finish, 3rd of 5, dist behind Some Can Dance (11-10) at Ffos Las 2m 5f hcp (4) hvy in Dec.
The Manuscript (IRE) 4-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, ridden and no impression in 4th before 3 out, weakened into 5th last, 5th of 10, 21 1/2l behind Seaston Spirit (11-6) at Lingfield 2m 7f hcp (4) hvy in Dec.
Sign Of War (IRE) 5-1 (11-1) Held up in mid-division, headway chasing leaders 4 out, pushed along after next, weakened before 2 out, 5th of 10, 9 1/4l behind Layerthorpe (11-4) at Taunton 3m hcp (5) sft in Dec.
El Scorpio (IRE) 33-1 (11-2) In touch in rear, weakened 10th, soon detached, tailed off when pulled up before last, at Hereford 3m 1f (4) hvy in Dec.
Bignorm (IRE) 13-2 (10-2) Mid-division, towards rear and pushed along 5th, mistake and struggling 8th, plugged on from 2 out, no impression on leaders, 5th of 13, 7 3/4l behind Little Millie (11-11) at Uttoxeter 2m 7f hcp (4) gd in Mar.
Here's Bingo 3-1 (10-10) Mid-division, weakened after 3 out, plugging on in 4th when went left and unseated rider last, at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp (5) sft in Dec.
Captains Run (IRE) 11-1 (10-13) Prominent, pushed along and weakened approaching 4 out, 3rd of 11, 21 3/4l behind Howlongisafoot (10-1) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp (5) sft in Oct.
Ector (FR) 5-1 (10-0) Prominent, led 4th, headed 3 out, rallied last, kept on under pressure, 2nd of 9, 3 1/2l behind Arqalina (10-8) at Ffos Las 2m 5f hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Sustainable Star (IRE) 20-1 (10-0) Behind, headway 4 out, chased leaders next, kept on same pace from 2 out, 3rd of 9, 12 1/2l behind Arqalina (10-8) at Ffos Las 2m 5f hcp (4) sft in Nov.
