tracking leaders when fell 9th
held up towards rear, headway approaching 10th, ridden to chase leaders after 13th, weakened next, pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, ridden after 9th, weakened after 13th, pulled up before next
mid-division, mistakes 5th and 6th, hampered 9th, headway 12th, weakened after 13th, behind when fell 4 out
led until 3rd, prominent, led 13th, ridden and headed when blundered 4 out, weakened
mid-division, ridden after 12th, weakened after next, pulled up before 3 out
prominent, led to 3rd until went left and headed 13th, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
held up behind, headway approaching 10th, ridden approaching 4 out, went 2nd 3 out, held when blundered 2 out
tracked leaders, not fluent 11th, led 4 out, stayed on strongly
in touch until 10th, soon ridden, never a danger after
mid-division until weakened 12th, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
held up towards rear, fell 9th
behind from 9th, pulled up before next
An open-looking handicap chase, and we will side with Blaze Ahead, with Rowley Hill, Deep Quest and Wotashambles all making it to the shortlist. The selection made all for today's jockey when successful over hurdles at Huntingdon last time out and kept on the same handicap mark now returned to fences, a big run looks forthcoming with the ground not a problem and the cheek-pieces on once again. Deep Quest is unexposed and stayed on well to win on his chase debut at the track; the step up in trip is unlikely to bother him but the tougher race may. River Indus has claims, although his sole win came at Fontwell and he isn't the most reliable for win purposes, although a place could be in the offing. Ballyman has claims, along with Garston Star if his jumping holds up. Rowley Hill drops in grade and is unexposed over fences, and with the stable in form he should run a big race although his price may just be a little skinny for such a competitive race. Wotashambles is consistent and should appreciate the step back up in trip, however it is Blaze Ahead who is taken to win again.
Mag Num (FR) 7-2 (11-2) Tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, 8 lengths 3rd and beaten when virtually fell 2 out and pulled up at the last in race won by Mole's Chamber (10-11) at N Abbot 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gs in May, 12 ran.
Wotashambles (IRE) 15-8fav (11-1) Tracked leaders, led 3 out, headed 2 out, one pace, 3rd of 5, 6l behind Molostiep (10-2) at Towcester 2m 6f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs.
Rowley Hill 25-1 (10-2) Held up towards rear, headway 6th, ridden and weakened after 2 out, 16th of 24, 36l behind Oscar Park (10-9) at Cheltenham 3m lst hcp hdl (1) gs in Mar.
Kellbury 20-1 (11-12) Mid-division, headway 4 out, outpaced from last, 3rd of 18, 12l behind Go Johnny (11-1) at Carlisle 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Nov.
Blaze Ahead (IRE) 5-1 (11-4) Made all, ridden 2 out, jumped right last, stayed on well, won at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Nov beating Flash Cummins (11-12) by 2l, 11 ran.
Garston Star 7-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders until fell at the 8th in race won by Fine By Me (11-5) at Plumpton 3m 2f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs in Nov, 7 ran.
Ballyman (IRE) 10-1 (11-3) Held up, hampered 5th, headway to track leaders 8th, weakened 3 out, 3rd of 6, 27l behind Blu Teen (11-3) at Chepstow 3m beg chs (4) gd in Apr.
Deep Quest 16-1 (10-12) Held up, soon well behind, headway after 11th, mistake 3 out, switched left, led after last, driven out, won at Exeter 2m 3f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gf in Nov beating Ackhurst (11-5) by 4l, 10 ran.
River Indus 6-4fav (10-7) Mid-division, went 3rd after 10th, ridden approaching 4 out, one pace from 3 out, 3rd of 8, 9l behind Big Al (9-9) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Nov.
Tiger Tips Lad (IRE) 11-2 (10-0) Disputed lead, led 10th, jumped and headed 12th, weakened 3 out, 4th of 11, 8l behind Master d'Or (11-5) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Nov.
Montanel (FR) 40-1 (11-4) Held up mid-division, headway approaching 14th, chased leaders until weakened 4 out, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Present M'lord (11-6) at Warwick 3m 2f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Nov, 12 ran.
Ice Cream (FR) 8-1 (10-12) Raced keenly, held up towards rear, headway 5th, every chance when blundered and unseated rider 4 out in race won by Golden Oak (10-8) at Towcester 2m 3f chs 0-95 (5) sft in Nov, 10 ran.
Fairly High (IRE) 50-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, left 2nd after 4th, ridden after 10th, weakened after 4 out, 5th of 12, 22l behind Algenon (11-8) at N Abbot 2m 5f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Aug.
