led, about 4 engths ahead and travelling well when mistake and unseated rider 2 out
took keen hold and raced wide early, tracked leading pair, went 2nd 5th (water) until pushed along approaching 4 out, no impression when left modest 2nd 2 out
tracked leading trio, went 3rd 5th, blundered 9th, 2nd approaching 4 out where mistake, ridden before next, about 4 lengths down and looking held when left clear 2 out
tracked leader until 5th, dropped to last next, left remote 5th 2 out, tailed off
jumped badly left throughout, held up last, closer in 4th at 7th, went badly left and jumped into eventual winner and hampered 9th, outpaced when reached for 10th, left poor 3rd 2 out
raced wide, held up in last pair, outpaced 10th, no chance after, left remote 4th 2 out, tailed off
NonRunner
Flying Angel has failed to complete since winning at Perth in September and it remains to be seen how well Charmix fares after opening his account over fences at Hereford last month. Both carry a penalty which should hand the advantage to GALA BALL (NAP). The latter lost a shoe when fading badly in the closing stages at Warwick last time but has shown promise on his earlier chasing bow at Bangor when finishing runner-up ahead of three subsequent winners. Minella Charmer was still going well when falling at Wetherby on his chasing bow while Bivouac last won over hurdles in 2015 and has his first start over fences today.
Charmix (FR) 5-4fav (10-12) Led until after 1st, with leader, not fluent 11th or 12th, shaken up 3 out, not fluent 2 out, soon narrow lead, went left last, ridden out, won at Hereford 2m 5f (4) sft in Jan beating Dig Deeper (10-12) by 3/4l, 6 ran.
Bivouac (FR) 50-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, ridden and struggling after 8th, pulled up before normal 2 out, at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Mar.
Gala Ball (IRE) 7-2 (11-0) Blundered 1st, tracked leader, not fluent 4 out, driven after next, ridden when lost place before 2 out, no chance with front pair after, tailed off, 3rd of 5, 25 1/4l behind Buveur D'air (11-6) at Warwick 2m (4) sft in Dec.
In The Tub (IRE) 200-1 (11-0) In rear, behind 6th, tailed off 8th, pulled up after, at Warwick 3m lst (1) sft in Jan.
Minella Charmer (IRE) 9-2 (11-0) Tracked leaders, headway after 5 out, in 2nd and going well when fell 4 out, at Wetherby 2m 3f (3) gs in Dec.
Swincombe Scorchio 40-1 (11-0) Chased leaders on outside, mistake and lost place 2nd, reminder 3rd, behind 10th, tailed off 12th, 5th of 9, dist behind Mystical Knight (11-0) at Hereford 3m 1f (4) sft in Dec.
Flying Angel (IRE) 8-1 (11-7) Held up in last pair, struggling 10th, lost touch when pulled up before 4 out, at Cheltenham 2m 4f (2) gd in Nov.
