held up rear in touch, pushed along after 13th, soon outpaced and struggling before 5 out, tailed off
led until approaching 4th, chased leading pair until after 7th, chased leaders, weakened before 5 out
last pair, headway chasing leaders after 2nd, mistake 5th, 3rd after 7th, driven into 2nd before 5 out, no impression 4 out, dropped to 3rd approaching 2 out, one pace
chased leaders, not fluent 11th, pushed along into 3rd before 5 out, 2nd approaching 2 out, closed last, stayed on to lead final 50 yards, all out
chased leader, led approaching 4th, headed 6th, chased leader, pushed along after 8th, driven along and lost 2nd before 5 out, soon weakened, tailed off
chased leading pair, went 2nd 4th, led 6th, clear before 3 out, reduced lead last, headed final 50 yards, rallied, just held
Nonrunner
Copper Birch was scheduled to run at Ffos Las yesterday and may not make the starting line-up if fulfilling that engagement. Pigeon Island usually competes in better company and was only beaten a neck of today's mark at Aintree in October. But he's an infrequent winner nowadays and others have more scope. Financial Climate has been well below par this season while Don't Do Mondays and Strollawaynow have a bit to prove after failing to complete last time but BUCKHORN TOM arrives at the top of his game. He never looked like being caught when ridden positively over this trip at Exeter last time and Paul O'Brien takes off 7lb again.
Pigeon Island 20-1 (9-12) Chased leaders, jumped slowly and lost place 2nd, headway 15th, stayed on same pace from 2 out, 5th of 13, 4 1/2l behind Mon Parrain (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Jan.
Dont Do Mondays (IRE) 11-1 (11-4) Held up behind, headway into mid-division on inside when fell 10th, in a race won by Itoldyou (10-11) at Plumpton 3m 5f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Jan, 12 ran.
Strollawaynow (IRE) 4-1 (10-9) Led 1st until after 5th, led 6th until next, weakened 13th, pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Algernon Pazham (11-0) at Leicester 2m 7f nov chs (3) sft in Jan, 7 ran.
Financial Climate (IRE) 11-2 (10-9) Chased leaders on outside, hit 11th, went 2nd 15th ridden into narrow lead 3 out, ridden and strongly pressed last, headed and no extra in 3rd run-in, 3rd of 7, 5l behind Knockanrawley (11-12) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Dec.
Buckhorn Tom 4-1 (10-5) Led until 3rd, led next, headed 3 out, led again last, stayed on well, won at Exeter 3m nov hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Jan beating Alberobello (11-7) by 3l, 11 ran.
Danners (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) Held up, closed after 4th, ridden after 7th, lost place 4 out, 7th of 11, 44l behind Buckhorn Tom (10-5) at Exeter 3m nov hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Jan.
Copper Birch (IRE) 4-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, left 2nd 12th, led before 3 out, clear from next, stayed on well, won at Taunton 2m 7f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Jan beating Mission Complete (10-12) by 7l, 6 ran.
