held up in mid-division, mistake 6th, struggling after, tailed off when pulled up approaching 3 out
chased leaders, pushed along approaching 3 out, weakened soon after and pulled up
held up in mid-division, headway going well approaching 2 out, led before last, strongly pressed and hard ridden flat, headed towards finish
led to 4th, chased leader, pushed along approaching 3 out, no extra from 2 out
held up in mid-division, headway approaching 2 out, ridden to challenge and not fluent last, upsides flat, driven ahead towards finish
took keen hold, chased leaders,weakened under pressure after 4 out, tailed off and pulled up after 3 out
held up in rear, headway approaching 2 out, one pace and no chance when blundered last
prominent, pushed along before 3 out, weakened after next, eased and pulled up before last
towards rear, ridden 5th, struggling in rear soon after, tailed off 4 out
chased leaders, led 4th, ridden and headed before 2 out, soon weakened, tailed off
always in rear, no chance when blundered 3 out, tailed off
always in rear, struggling 4, tailed off and pulled up before next
held up towards rear, pushed along 5th, tailed off and struggling after 4 out
chased leaders, went 2nd 3 out, led before 2 out, headed before last, no extra flat
STRATEGIC APPROACH gets the nod here over Moleskin and Money Order in a competitive affair. The selection makes his handicap bow this afternoon but he may not be badly treated off a mark of 118 given the authority of his win here last time out. Soft ground is evidently no problem and this son of Bob Back can win again. Magnifico has been in fine form of late for David Evans but now looks high enough in the weights, Money Order is interesting with AP McCoy back in the saddle, whilst Moleskin doesn't look chucked in off a mark of 125. Aqualung's profile is hit-and-miss but he may be happier now returned to hurdles, Pocket Too has run two good races since coming back from a spell on the sidelines, whilst Olmeto Collonges represents a yard that may be starting to come to hand. Former Irish point-to-point winner Minella For Food has something to prove, Mistress To No One is consistent and threatens to win a nice pot, whilst Bella Haze is a consistent mare and her form has been franked. Narrow preference is for Strategic Approach.
Another Brother (IRE) 4-1 (11-7) Tracked leader, led 6th, hit and headed 5 out, weakened quickly, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Factotum (11-4) at Ffos Las 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Nov, 9 ran.
Moleskin (IRE) 3-1fav (11-5) Led, ridden and headed approaching last where mistake, lost 2nd flat, 3rd of 11, 5l behind Silver Kate (10-5) at Chepstow 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Nov.
Strategic Approach (IRE) 10-3 (11-0) Mid-division, headway after 5th, led 3 out, drew clear flat, ran on well, won at Chepstow 3m mdn hdl (4yo+) (4) hvy beating Sandofthecolosseum (11-0) by 8l, 11 ran.
Magnifico (FR) 4-1fav (10-13) Close up, led 2nd, headed 6th, lost place from 7th, 6th of 9, 22l behind Minella Boys (10-10) at Bangor 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft.
Money Order (IRE) 11-1 (11-3) Held up in rear, headway approaching 4 out, never troubled leaders, 4th of 15, 21l behind Cross Kennon (11-7) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) hvy.
Aqualung (FR) 3-1 (11-9) Tracked leader, lost place 13th, 4th and beaten when blundered 3 out, tailed off when jumped badly left next, pulled up before last, in a race won by Youngstown (10-13) at Market Rasen 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy in Nov, 5 ran.
Clyffe Hanger (IRE) 16-1 (9-11) In touch, headway to chase leaders 3 out, weakened soon after next, 7th of 15, 16l behind Time For Rupert (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m Handicap Hurdle (0-155) (4yo+) (2) sft.
Pocket Too 9-4 (10-12) Chased winner, ridden approaching 2 out, no impression, 2nd of 8, 6l behind Classic Dream (10-4) at Hereford 2m 1f sell (5) sft.
Two Miles West (IRE) 33-1 (9-13) Held up, reminders after 4th, pushed along after 6th, weakened from 8th, 7th of 9, 23l behind Minella Boys (10-10) at Bangor 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft.
Bella Haze 14-1 (11-5) Led, hit 3rd, headed soon after 3 out, no impression after next, left modest 3rd and hampered last, 3rd of 7, 6l behind Ocean Transit (11-3) at Ludlow 2m Mares Handicap Hurdle (0-115) (3yo+) (4) sft.
Olmeto Collonges (FR) 7-1 (9-12) Held up in touch, ridden and weakened 2 out, 4th of 9, 19l behind Minella Boys (10-10) at Bangor 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft.
Minella For Food (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Held up and always in rear, tailed off, 5th of 10, 31l behind Peveril (11-0) at Leicester 2m 4f nh nov hdl (3) sft in Nov.
Ballyvesey (IRE) 6-1 (10-10) Held up, headway 8th, ridden before next, weakened 2 out, 6th of 14, 30l behind Love of Tara (10-4) at Exeter 2m 7f am nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Mistress To No One 4-1fav (11-5) Held up, headway to chase leaders approaching 3 out, one pace from last, 3rd of 16, 4l behind Stoop To Conquer (11-12) at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs.