held up mid-division, headway before 3 out, one pace from 2 out
held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, every chance 2 out, chased winner before last, one pace and no impression
held up behind, headway before 3 out to challenge, led before last, drew clear run-in, easily
led, headed before 3 out, weakened from 2 out
with leader, weakened before 3 out
in rear, pushed along before 3 out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, chased leaders after 3rd, weakened from 2 out
held up towards rear, pushed along before 3 out, soon weakened
prominent and keen, headway before 3 out, led before 3 out, ridden and headed before last, soon weakened
tracked leaders, lost place before 4th, weakened from 4 out, tailed off
It's no surprise that A P McCoy partners the tough Gone Too Far for Alan King rather than Jonjo O'Neill's Ballindenisk point-to-point winner Benzel but VANITEUX should be a tough nut to crack. Successful at Sandown on his hurdling debut, the five-year-old found the competition too hot when only fourth at Kempton over Christmas but that race is already churning out winners. Portway Flyer started his winning run over track and trip at the end of November but now meets a couple of decent novices at level weights. Fair Dreamer makes his debut over timber having won a Wincanton bumper in December but Vinstar is starting to show some form and could be worth monitoring for when he goes handicapping.
Gone Too Far 5-6fav (11-5) Held up in touch, went 3rd 4 out, pushed along and went 2nd on inside before 2 out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 18, 11l behind Garde La Victoire (11-5) at Warwick 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Portway Flyer (IRE) 1-2fav (11-12) Tracked leaders in 3rd, challenged 3 out, led before 2 out, clear before last, won at Exeter 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Dec beating Pass Muster (10-12) by 5l, 6 ran.
Vaniteux (FR) 9-4fav (11-8) In touch, not fluent throughout, chased leaders 3 out, challenging when mistake last, weakened flat, 4th of 7, 8l behind Amore Alato (11-8) at Kempton 2m nh nov hdl (2) sft in Dec.
Benzel (IRE) 4-1 (12-2) Mostly trkd ldr in 2nd until 3rd 5out, ld 2out, went 6l clr bef last, easily, won at Ballindenisk 3m ire ptp gd in Dec beating Dark Outsider (12-2) by 5l, 14 ran.
Fair Dreamer 11-4fav (10-8) Held up tracking leaders, led going well over 3f out, came readily clear final 2f, ran green in closing stages, kept on well, won at Wincanton 2m mdn NH flat (6) gd in Dec beating Flashyfrank (10-11) by 4l, 11 ran.
Garton Star (IRE) 4-1 (10-8) Bhnd til gd prog 15; wknd & pu 2 out, in a race won by My Rebel (12-0) at Dulverton 3m ptp gd in May, 8 ran.
Ronnie Lawson (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, weakened before 3 out, 7th of 18, 38l behind Garde La Victoire (11-5) at Warwick 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
The Purchaser (IRE) 5-6 (11-7) Mists; w ldr til fell 7, in a race won by Putiacca Bella (11-7) at Melton Hunt Club 2m 4f ptp gd in May, 9 ran.
Vinstar (FR) 20-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, mistake 3rd, not fluent next, ridden and some progress before 3 out, no further impression until stayed on approaching last, went 4th flat, 4th of 14, 18l behind Mijhaar (10-12) at Doncaster 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Nov.
Izza Diva 100-1 (10-7) Always in rear, detatched 5th, pulled up 4 out, in a race won by Fennell Bay (11-2) at Fakenham 2m mdn hdl (5) sft in Jan, 11 ran.
