close up, ridden before last, soon weakened
held up towards rear, pushed along after 4 out and outpaced, headway before 2 out, kept on to lead last 75 yards, driven out
mid-division, headway before 4 out, every chance 3 out, led 2 out, kept on and headed last 75 yards
tracked leaders in 3rd, pushed along before 4 out, ridden and weakened before 3 out
behind, weakened from 5 out, soon tailed off, pulled up before last
tracked leaders in 4th, weakened before 5 out
led, headed 2 out, no extra and lost 3rd place towards finish
in rear, outpaced 4 out, headway before 2 out, kept on to take 3rd place towards finish
held up in touch, headway before 3 out, soon went 2nd, weakened from last
mid-division, reminders 7th, ridden before 4 out, tailed off
mid-division, weakened before 7 out, tailed off before 4 out
always towards rear, tailed off before 4 out
A number of these - including Chill Factor, Our Mick, Waltz Darling, Moss On The Mill and Prince Of Pirates - have been chasing lately. But Rathlin Rose has won his last two over hurdles and makes his handicap debut while Wicked Spice won over course and distance in November, though was only fourth off this mark at Carlisle next time. MILAN BOUND paid the price for leading the chase behind in-form Bygones Sovereign at Newbury last time and weakened in the closing stages. He doesn't look a horse that finds much off the bridle but should McCoy should find plenty of cover in this field and the seven-year-old can recoup losses. Western Jo ran very well behind Batavir at Wincanton on Boxing Day and any improvement on that will see him in the firing-line but Relentless Dreamer has become expensive to follow.
Rathlin Rose (IRE) 4-6fav (11-4) Made all, driven clear approaching 2 out, very easily, won at Fakenham 2m 7f nov hdl (4) sft in Jan beating Baku Bay (11-4) by 16l, 3 ran.
Milan Bound (IRE) 11-8fav (10-9) Held up off the pace towards rear, steady headway approaching 5th, soon tracking leaders, chased (clear) winner before 2 out, until before the last, weakened run-in, lost 3rd towards finish, 4th of 11, 30l behind Bygones Sovereign (9-7) at Newbury 3m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) sft.
Western Jo (IRE) 25-1 (10-3) Reluctant start and slowly away, behind, headway 3 out, went 4th before next, kept on, took 3rd towards finish, never reached front pair, 3rd of 12, 6l behind Batavir (10-2) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl (2) sft in Dec.
Chill Factor (IRE) 4-1 (11-5) Tracked leader, hampered 7th, slow next, every chance after 3 out, quickly pulled up before next, in a race won by Benevolent (11-0) at Market Rasen 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Dec, 8 ran.
Wicked Spice (IRE) 9-4fav (10-8) Towards rear, hit 3rd, ridden before 2 out, headway approaching last, never nearer, 4th of 9, 27l behind Phoenix Returns (10-8) at Carlisle 3m 1f hcp hdl (2) hvy in Dec.
Relentless Dreamer (IRE) 7-2 (11-8) Raced tracking leaders, pushed along before 2 out, soon not quicken, went 2nd 2 out, no chance with ready winner, 2nd of 6, 9l behind Kingscourt Native (11-2) at Kempton 3m nh nov hdl (3) sft in Jan.
Our Mick 7-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, switched outside approaching 5th, lost place briefly 7th, reminders after next, behind from 10th, tailed off when pulled up 4 out, in a race won by Bincombe (10-10) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Dec, 10 ran.
Waltz Darling (IRE) 18-1 (11-3) In rear, blundered 4th, in a poor 3rd before and blundered 4 out, in 3rd and well held when fell 2 out, in a race won by Seventh Sky (11-8) at Musselburgh 2m 4f nov chs (3) gd, 5 ran.
Harry Hunt 12-1 (11-3) Held up towards rear, reminder after 8 out, weakened before 4 out, 7th of 8, well behind Smooth Stepper (10-9) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Jan.
Moss On The Mill 33-1 (10-5) Tracked leaders, not much room on bend after 2nd, lost place next, mistake 11th, soon behind, tailed off 13th, soon pulled up, in a race won by Cogry (10-13) at Chepstow 3m nov hcp chs (3) hvy in Dec, 9 ran.
Dawn Twister (GER) 7-1 (10-10) Held up in rear, struggling 8th, pulled up after 3 out, in a race won by Join The Clan (10-2) at Warwick 3m 2f hcp hdl (2) sft in Jan, 11 ran.
Prince Of Pirates (IRE) 33-1 (11-12) Towards rear, mistake 1st, detatched 9th, soon pulled up, in a race won by Clondaw Knight (11-11) at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Jan, 9 ran.
