tracked leaders, led approaching 4th, clear approaching 3 out, easily
led, headed approaching 4th, ridden after 4 out, kept on and no impression from 2 out
chased leaders, in 4th and weakening when blundered last
held up, towards rear, some headway 5th, weakened 4 out
held up, mid-division, pushed along and reminder approaching 4th, soon weakened
held up, towards rear, weakened after 4th, soon tailed off, pulled up before last
prominent and raced keen early, ridden approaching 3 out, went 2nd after last, kept on and no chance with winner
held up, towards rear, headway when not fluent 4th, weakened 4 out
held up, mid-division, weakened from 5th
prominent, lost place from 4th
mid-division, lost place approaching 4th, weakened next, tailed off, pulled up soon after
held up, mid-division, headway 4 out, chased winner approaching 3 out, ridden approaching next, hit last, soon weakened
held up, towards rear, outpaced from 5th, no impression from 3 out
tracked leader and keen, weakened from 3 out, blundered last
held up, towards rear, weakened from 5th
in rear and keen early, outpaced from 5th
WISHFULL THINKING makes most appeal in the finale with Moleskin and Double Pride likely to put up the most potent of opposition. Giles Hawkins is able to claim 7lb off the back of Phillip Hobbs charge but this horse could be a fair way better than handicapper and off a mark of 126 - there looks plenty more to come. Moleskin is a confirmed mud lover. The trip will be on the sharp side for him though Victor Dartnall's charge has plenty of resolution and will not be found wanting in that department. Double Pride comes into the unexposed category. A wide margin winner of what was an above average event at Warwick, he could be anything. The ground should be of little concern. Rebel Du Maquis won a novice hurdle in style. Well held at Cheltenham when falling with two to jump, today will tell the trainer more about future targets. Red Mile did not show a great deal on debut though the pedigree suggests he'll be more at home on this surface. Ready Or Not was a winning pointer and with Bob Buckler having a good season thus far, could be given each-way claims at fancy prices.A race probably to watch with the future rather than the present in mind but Wishfull Thinking has done nothing wrong so far and should progress further.
Wishfull Thinking 11-8fav (11-11) Chased leaders, blundered 1st, tracked leader from 3rd, led 7th, ridden after 2 out, joined and strongly pressed when left clear last, driven out flat, won at Taunton 2m 3f nov hdl (3) sft in Jan beating Grands Crus (11-5) by 7l, 13 ran.
Moleskin (IRE) 11-2 (11-7) Chased leaders, pushed along approaching 3 out, weakened soon after and pulled up, in a race won by Money Order (11-7) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) hvy in Dec, 14 ran.
Rebel Du Maquis (FR) 9-1 (11-4) In touch, steadied approaching 3rd, fluent 6th, beaten 3 out, no chance when fell 2 out, in a race won by Tell Massini (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hdl G2 (1) sft in Nov, 9 ran.
Barton Alf 50-1 (11-4) Towards rear, some headway 3 out, soon ridden, never on terms, 7th of 14, 23l behind Mille Chief (11-0) at Huntingdon 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Coombsway (IRE) 100-1 (10-9) Mid-division, pushed along over 9f out, soon behind, 9th of 10, 41l behind Quousko De L'isop (10-12) at Warwick 2m NH flat (6) sft in Jan.
Cranmere Pool 25-1 (10-11) Held up, pushed along over 6f out, weakened over 4f out, tailed off, 8th of 9, well behind Lucky Sunny (10-13) at Uttoxeter 2m NH flat (6) sft in Dec.
Double Pride 10-3 (10-12) Mid-division, headway 7th, chased winner 3 out, hung left approaching 2 out, beaten when not fluent last, 2nd of 12, 9l behind Will Be Done (10-9) at Leicester 2m 4f nh nov hdl (3) sft in Dec.
Flying Flagship 5-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, headway over 7f out, ridden over 4f out, weakened over 3f out, 5th of 10, 21l behind Quousko De L'isop (10-12) at Warwick 2m NH flat (6) sft in Jan.
Goodwill Phil 100-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, weakened 4 out, 10th of 13, well behind Chartreux (11-5) at Ffos Las 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gs in Jan.
Magical Island 150-1 (10-12) Always behind, mistake and reminder 4th, soon struggling, tailed off, 14th of 16, well behind On Borrowed Wings (11-5) at Ffos Las 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Dec.
Mykingdomforakiss 100-1 (11-0) Held up, last when blundered and unseated rider 5th, in a race won by Pearlysteps (11-0) at Towcester 2m nov hdl (4) sft, 8 ran.
Ready Or Not (IRE) 12-1 (10-9) Tracked clear leader, lost place before 6th, soon tailed off, pulled up 2 out, in a race won by Quartano (11-5) at Folkestone 2m 4f NH nov hdl 4-6yo (4) hvy in Nov, 4 ran.
Red Mile (FR) 16-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, headway on inside over 2f out, kept on inside final furlong, never nearer, 4th of 11, 10l behind Johnny Mullen (10-9) at Wincanton 2m NH flat (6) sft in Dec.
The Rustlin Rhino 18-1 (11-4) Led, headed after 4 out, soon ridden and weakened, 9th of 13, well behind Extreme Impact (10-7) at Chepstow 2m nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
Dolly Grey 28-1 (10-7) Chased leaders until not fluent and lost place 6th, weakened 3 out, pulled up soon after, in a race won by Kildonnan (11-0) at Towcester 2m 6f beg chase (4) sft, 8 ran.
Miss Nightshade 25-1 (11-2) Led when veered left, refused, unseated rider 1st, in a race won by Playing With Fire (10-13) at Leicester 2m mrs nov hdl (3) hvy in Jan, 11 ran.
The Groovy Mule 3-1 (12-0) Held up; jnd ldrs when ur 3 out, in a race won by Identimin (11-0) at Charlton Horethorne 2m 4f ptp in Mar, 9 ran.
