led 1st, tracked clear leader, lost 2nd at 10th, headway 5 out, never able to challenge
held up in touch, chasing clear leaders when fell 12th
mid-division, tailed off from 10th, moderate 4th
always behind, mistake 1st, tailed off 10th
held up in rear, tailed off 10th, behind when fell last
led after 1st, made rest, not fluent 6th, shaken up 2 out, stayed on strongly
chased leaders, went 2nd 10th, effort 3 out, soon no impression
held up well in rear, tailed off 10th, moderate 5th
Master Fiddle looks one to be wary of after a dismal effort when well backed at Taunton last month. Quentin Collonges warrants a second look, however, as he showed promise over fences last season and was returning from a break when finding only Loose Preformer too good at Leicester. The Cockney Mackem has been placed in four of his five starts over fences and will be thereabouts again if staying this longer trip as his latest second to Micheal Flips has worked out well but we'll give another chance to AIKMAN. Best fresh, he still needs to work on his jumping but his second to Sarando at Carlisle in November was a decent effort and he'll be hard to peg back if allowed his own way out in front. Master Flight has some scope and may be best of the rest.
Aikman (IRE) 11-4 (11-5) Led to 5th, weakened from 13th, tailed off and pulled up before, 3rd of 5, well behind Lackamon (10-12) at Newcastle 3m Novice Limited Handicap Chase (0-135) (4yo+) (3) gs in Nov.
Master Fiddle 6-4fav (10-6) Tracked leaders, 3rd when blundered 13th, soon beaten, well behind from 4 out, tailed off, 4th of 6, well behind Made In Time (10-6) at Taunton 2m 7f nov ltd hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Jan.
Master Flight 28-1 (11-1) Held up in touch, weakened from 4 out, 4th of 6, 48l behind Harry The Viking (11-1) at Doncaster 3m nov chs (4) gs in Dec.
Midnight Charmer 40-1 (9-7) Led 2nd, made most after, headed 8th, chased leader until soon after 3 out, outpaced in 4th before 2 out, challenging for well held 3rd when blundered last, took 3rd close home, 3rd of 8, 19l behind Crack At Dawn (10-10) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Nov.
Moscow Mule 12-1 (10-9) Held up in touch, in rear from 6th, blundered 12th, tailed off, 5th of 6, well behind Baile Anrai (11-0) at Towcester 2m 6f beg chs (5) gs in Dec.
Quentin Collonges (FR) 9-4 (11-0) Led to 7th, tracked winner, every chance 4 out, lost place next, ridden 2 out, stayed on to regain 2nd last, no impression flat, 2nd of 6, 5l behind Loose Preformer (10-9) at Leicester 2m 7f nov chs (4) gd in Dec.
The Cockney Mackem (IRE) 6-1 (10-3) Mid-division, headway 4 out, went 2nd next, soon ridden, stayed on to press winner flat, held near finish, 2nd of 11, 3/4l behind Micheal Flips (11-4) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Jan.
Noble Legend 14-1 (10-7) Lost plce 9; to & pu 4 out, in a race won by Gunmoney (12-0) at Guilsborough 3m ptp gd in Apr, 13 ran.
