held up in touch, lost place 7th, some headway when hit 4 out, soon weakened
led to 1st, chased leader, led 8th, ridden and hung right from 3 out, strongly pressed from 2 out, headed close home
held up in rear, not fluent 1st, headway 5th, driven along from 8th, jumped right 4 out, challenged when blundered 2 out, jumped right and mistake last, stayed on under strong pressure to lead close home
chased leaders, blundered 8th, edged left from 2 out, stayed on to go 3rd flat
held up, hit 4th, headway approaching 4 out, switched left before 3 out, staying on on same pace when fell 2 out
chased leaders, beaten before 3 out, behind when hampered 2 out
took keen hold, led 1st, headed 8th, ridden after 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out
held up in rear, hit 6th, headway approaching 4 out, not much room 3 out, soon ridden, stayed on same pace approaching last
held up, hit 4th, headway approaching 6th, ridden and mistake 2 out, one pace last
mid-division, not fluent 2nd (water), lost place when not fluent 4th, mistake 5th, struggling 7th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
held up in rear, mistake 7th, soon ridden and struggling
The feature event of the day and Howle Hill is our selection to land this ahead of Saintsaire and Helen Wood. The selection has made an encouraging start to chasing, landing two minor contests before winning a competitive hanicap chase before Christmas. Up 8lb for that victory he travelled well last time out but a mistake two out knocked the stuffing out of him. Nonetheless, it was a crediable effort and off the same mark he should go close. Saintsaire is most effective on a flat track so with that in mind is put forward as the biggest threat to the selection. Helen Wood is of real interest at the bottom of the handicap and from the Pipe yard has to be respected. Andreas and Lennon are others to consider but our selection is Howle Hill to land the feature.
Andreas (FR) 11-2 (11-12) Held up towards rear, headway 9th, close 3rd and ridden when fell 2 out in race won by Bambi De L'orme (10-2) at Aintree 2m hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gd in Apr, 15 ran.
Lennon (IRE) 3-1jt-fav (11-12) Led to 1st, mistake next, chased leaders, headway 8th, effort 4 out, outpaced when hit 2 out, weakened approaching last, 6th of 9, 21l behind Calatagan (11-2) at Wetherby 2m hcp chs (2) gs in Dec.
Howle Hill (IRE) 11-4 (11-12) In touch, chased leader 7th, led 3 out, ridden when blundered 2 out, not recover, 4th of 8, 9l behind Master Minded (11-7) at Sandown 2m hcp chs (2) gs in Jan.
Pablo Du Charmil (FR) 3-1fav (11-12) Led, hit 4 out, headed next, weakening when blundered 2 out, 6th of 10, 33l behind Hoo La Baloo (11-7) at Ascot 2m 1f hcp chs (2) gd in Nov.
Calatagan (IRE) 10-1 (11-11) Held up, ridden 3 out, no impression, last of 8, 27l behind Master Minded (11-7) at Sandown 2m hcp chs (2) gs in Jan.
Saintsaire (FR) 7-1 (11-7) Held up, headway from 5th, went 2nd 9th, hit 10th, led 4 out, ridden after 2 out, went left last, headed flat, stayed on until no extra towards finish, 2nd of 9, 3/4l behind O'Toole (10-0) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs (2) gd in Dec.
Oneway (IRE) 14-1 (11-9) Held up, ridden and outpaced approaching 3 out, no impression, 7th of 9, 23l behind Calatagan (11-2) at Wetherby 2m hcp chs (2) gs in Dec.
Hasty Prince 7-1 (11-1) Held up, headway after 3 out, ridden 2 out, chased winner last, no extra, 2nd of 8, 3 1/2l behind Master Minded (11-7) at Sandown 2m hcp chs (2) gs in Jan.
Bambi de L'Orme (FR) 12-1 (11-12) Mid-division, took keen hold, not fluent 6th, blundered 7th, headway approaching 4 out, beaten approaching last, 4th of 11, 12l behind Edmo Yewkay (10-4) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp chs 0-140 (2) gd in Jan.
Helen Wood 11-8fav (10-6) Tracked leaders, not fluent 12th, led 3 out, soon clear, ridden before last, headed and no extra close home, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Gods Token (10-12) at Fakenham 2m 5f nov chs (3) gs in Jan.
Rapide Plaisir (IRE) 2-1 (11-7) Raced keenly, prominent, mistake 3rd, chased winner 5th, mistake 8th, lost 2nd after 3 out, soon beaten, 4th of 5, 20l behind Bishop's Bridge (11-12) at Huntingdon 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gf in Nov.
