pressed leader, led 10th, hit 12th, narrow advantage when blundered and sprawled 5 out, not recover and pulled up
led narrowly, headed 10th, tracked leader, left in narrow lead again 5 out, headed last, rallied to regain lead briefly flat, held towards finish
held up in touch, tracked leaders when hampered and unseated rider 5 out
mistake 2nd, held up in last pair in touch, headway 5 out, soon challenged, led narrowly last, ridden and headed flat, no extra
held up in last pair in touch, outpaced before 5 out, plugged on same pace from next, never near leaders
tracked leaders on outside, lost place 13th, behind before 5 out, no chance with leaders
tracked leaders, lost place 10th, headway under pressure before 5 out, soon chased leaders, ridden and stayed on to lead flat
Nonrunner
Exeter scorer Samingarry is climbing the weights and may get found out today. Minella Definitely is feasibly handicapped but has fallen in both chase starts. Midnight Prayer was struggling to get on top at Stratford in October when the long-time leader fell at the last. He has 7lb more to carry here but there are possibilities about Hansupfordetroit off the same mark as when a close second at Ffos Las. BALLYTOBER travelled strongly for a long way on his chasing bow at Exeter but was just touched off. A winning pointer, he has a future over fences and James Best's claim is a major plus here. Wilton Milan should also improve now tackling the larger obstacles but Annacotty was well beaten at Ascot after winning at Kempton.
Wilton Milan (IRE) 13-8fav (11-8) Tracked leaders in 3rd, hampered 3rd, went 2nd at 6th, led 3 out, headed before 2 out, held in 4th when blundered and unseated rider 2 out, in a race won by Kangaroo Court (11-9) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Oct, 6 ran.
Annacotty (IRE) 5-2fav (11-7) Tracked leaders, lost place 14th, weakened before 2 out, tailed off, 6th of 12, 27l behind Night Alliance (10-2) at Ascot 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Nov.
Midnight Prayer 11-4fav (11-3) Held up in rear, headway 11th, went 2nd next, ridden after 2 out, closed to join leader when left clear last, won at Stratford 2m 7f nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Oct beating Adrenalin Flight (10-7) by 19l, 10 ran.
Ballytober 11-2 (10-6) Tracked leaders, led 3 out, challenged last, hung left flat, headed and no extra close home, 2nd of 4, nk behind Kasbadali (10-8) at Exeter 3m (3) gd in Nov.
Counting House (IRE) 33-1 (11-3) Held up in touch in last pair, went 4th from 8th, outpaced in 5th before 4 out, rallied next, blundered 2 out, no further impression, 4th of 6, 15l behind Smad Place (11-3) at Exeter 3m nov chs (3) gs in Nov.
Minella Definitely (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Led, not fluent 2nd, narrowly headed 4th, chased winner until 9th, chased leading pair, ridden and outpaced before 4 out, no chance with leading duo when fell 2 out, in a race won by Uxizandre (11-8) at Plumpton 2m 4f nov chs (3) gs in Nov, 5 ran.
Samingarry (FR) 17-2 (10-13) Held up, slow 3rd, headway after 5th, every chance 4 out, led 3 out, hard driven after next, stayed on well, won at Exeter 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Nov beating Ultragold (11-7) by 2 1/2l, 9 ran.
Hansupfordetroit (IRE) 3-1 (11-0) Prominent, mistake 2nd, went 2nd before 5th, not fluent 11th or 12th, led after next, headed before 4 out, jumped slowly and beaten 2 out, stayed on towards finish, 2nd of 6, 1 3/4l behind Super Villan (10-1) at Ffos Las 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Nov.
