chased leaders, weakened before 5 out, tailed off
held up in touch, headway on bit to track leaders before 3 out, led 2 out, ran on strongly from last
mid-division, ridden before 3 out, soon weakened
with leaders, led before 4 out, headed 2 out, soon weakened
in touch, headway before 3 out, soon ridden and weakened
with leaders, challenged 3 out, weakened last
always towards rear
in rear, headway before 3 out, kept on same pace in 3rd from last
always towards rear, pushed along 5 out, soon weakened, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
prominent, challenged on bit before 3 out, every chance last, kept on and no chance with winner
led, headed before 4 out, every chance 3 out, weakened before 2 out
always behind, tailed off 5 out
held up towards rear, pushed along after 5 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 3 out
held up rear division, headway before 3 out, blundered last 2 hurdles, kept on
Brio Conti was second over this trip at Haydock before a less impressive effort over 2m at Cheltenham but he is eased in grade here so goes on the short-list. Winning pointer Dara's Present is definitely worth a market check but bumper winner Cougar's Gold has his first run since May. Gustave Mahler has won point-to-points and bumpers but was only third here last month when favourite. WENYERREADYFREDDIE (NAP) couldn’t quicken when third at Newbury in November but should improve on that now upped in distance. Second in a bumper here last March, he’s only had two career starts so probably has more scope than his likely market rivals.
Ain't No Limits (FR) 12-1 (10-12) Mid-division, closed 6th, 6th and struggling 2 out, 6th of 14, 25 1/2l behind Strong Pursuit (11-4) at Hereford 2m 4f (4) sft in Jan.
Brio Conti (FR) 10-1 (10-12) With leader, led after 2nd, headed before last, soon weakened, 8th of 12, 15 1/2l behind Pingshou (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 1f (3) gd in Dec.
Cougar's Gold (IRE) 4-5fav (11-2) Led 3f, tracked leader, pushed along over 4f out, ridden over 3f out, led again over 2f out, soon hard pressed, stayed on well under pressure final furlong, just held on, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f (6) gd in May beating Chez Castel Mail (10-12) by hd, 5 ran.
Dara's Present (IRE) 5-4 (12-1) Made all, 2l adv 6out, gng best 3out, mstk 2out, 5l adv bef last, sow, won at Boulta 3m mdn gd in Nov beating Allannahs Gold (11-10) by 12l, 6 ran.
Derrick D'Anjou (IRE) 66-1 (10-12) Held up in touch, mistake 3rd, under pressure 4 out, stayed on same pace after next, 4th of 12, 24 1/2l behind Rather Be (11-5) at Huntingdon 2m 4f (4) gs in Dec.
Gustave Mahler (IRE) 13-8fav (10-12) Led, bumped 5th, mistake and headed 2 out, ridden and lost 2nd between last two, kept on same pace in 3rd, 3rd of 15, 8 1/2l behind Just Milly (10-5) at Doncaster 2m 3f (4) gd in Dec.
Kilmoganny (IRE) 8-1 (11-5) Ww rr, 12th 1/2way,mstk 9th, no ex from 3out, ko onepcd str, 6th of 12, 25 1/4l behind Midnight Escape (11-10) at Grennan 3m mdn gf in May.
Markov (IRE) 10-1 (10-12) Led, headed when mistake 3rd, remained prominent, weakened 3 out, 5th of 12, 26 1/2l behind Rather Be (11-5) at Huntingdon 2m 4f (4) gs in Dec.
Rollo's Reflection (IRE) 15-2 (11-0) Tracked leaders in 4th, led over 1f out, headed narrowly last 50 yards, just held close home, 2nd of 5, shd behind Mont Choisy (11-0) at Worcester 2m (6) gf in Jun.
Wenyerreadyfreddie (IRE) 9-1 (11-0) Prominent in chasing group, disputing handy 4th 3 out, ridden and went 3rd before the last, no impression when went left last, no chance with leading duo, 3rd of 17, 9l behind High Bridge (11-0) at Newbury 2m mdn (4) gs in Dec.
Wind Place And Sho 5-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, ridden after 4 out, lost place next, weakening when mistake 2 out, 6th of 11, dist behind Lough Derg Farmer (11-6) at Doncaster 2m 5f mdn (5) gd in Jan.
Barra Hooley (IRE) 200-1 (11-0) Always towards rear, well beaten 4 out, 12th of 13, dist behind Verdana Blue (11-0) at Hereford 2m (4) gs in Jan.
Lady Broome 100-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders on outside, lost place 3rd, behind 6th, slowed up into 7th, went right and unseated rider, at Wetherby 2m 4f (4) gs in Dec.
Pomme 50-1 (10-7) In touch, blundered badly 2nd, headway before 2 out, in 4th and one pace before last, 4th of 17, 12 1/4l behind Winter Escape (11-0) at Doncaster 2m 1f mdn (5) gs in Dec.