prominent, led 2nd, headed next, soon lost place, closed before 7th, not fluent 7th, every chance 4 out, no extra next
prominent until 3rd, tracked leaders, every chance 4 out, no extra 2 out
held up towards rear, mistake 4th, headway from 12th, challenging when mistake 4 out, led after next, clear last, stayed on well
led 1st until 2nd, stayed handy, not fluent 10th, pushed along 11th, lost place next, well beaten after next
held up, fell 2nd
prominent, led and pecked 6th, headed 3 out, plugged on from next
mistakes, mid-division, closed 12th, weakened before 4 out, pulled up before next
led until 1st, led 3rd, headed 6th, every chance 4 out, plugged on same pace in 3rd from 2 out
Ballypoint and Bacchanel both hail from yards who do well in contests of this type. The latter is making his debut over the larger obstacles but the former had a spin around Towcester last month and will have learned plenty from that, though did finish behind Dontminddboys. BRAMBLE BROOK had looked one to follow after chasing home West Wizard at Ffos Las last month but he just never got going when favourite here at the start of the month. That can’t have been his true running and he’s given another chance. Obistar was a bit hit-and-miss over hurdles but could figure if taking to fences.
Ballypoint (IRE) 14-1 (11-10) Held up in mid-division, hampered 2nd, not fluent 5th, headway 9th, mistake and one pace 2 out, 7th of 14, 9 1/4l behind Goohar (11-4) at Towcester 2m 6f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Bramble Brook 9-4fav (10-11) Mistakes, chased leaders, mistake 2nd, hit 10th, pushed along and weakened before 4 out, pulled up before the last, at Exeter 3m hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Bindon Mill 17-2 (11-0) Tracked leaders, in 5th place when mistake 7th, never on terms after, tailed off, 5th of 7, 33 3/4l behind Robinsfirth (11-0) at Exeter 2m 3f (3) sft in Jan.
Big Georgie (IRE) 8-1 (10-9) (5a) nvr nrr, 6th of 12, 11 3/4l behind Vedettariat (11-0) at Chaddesley Corbett 3m gd in Dec.
Obistar (FR) 15-2 (11-9) Tracked leaders, reminders after 7th, weakened from 3 out, 5th of 9, 24 1/4l behind Babeny Bridge (11-9) at Ffos Las 3m hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Somerset Lias (IRE) 6-1 (11-13) Tracked leaders, led from 3rd to 4th, lost place 9th, pulled up after 12th, at Taunton 3m 2f hcp (4) gd in Dec.
Bacchanel (FR) 33-1 (11-0) Held up in mid-division, headway chasing leaders approaching 6th, pushed along before 9th, weakened before 2 out, 6th of 17, dist behind Give Me A Copper (11-0) at Exeter 2m 7f mdn (4) sft in Dec.
Quinto 9-2 (10-12) Tracked leaders, ridden after 4 out, weakened next, 8th of 12, 34 1/2l behind Saint John Henry (11-12) at Warwick 3m 2f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Dontminddboys (IRE) 17-2 (10-9) Soon behind, headway under pressure, went 3rd after last, ridden and kept on flat, not trouble front pair, 3rd of 12, 10 1/2l behind Muckle Roe (11-4) at Warwick 3m hcp (4) sft in Dec.
