held up towards rear, not fluent 12th, ridden approaching 4 out, steady headway 3 out, one pace from 2 out
held up towards rear, ridden after 14th, no impression from 4 out
close up, led narrowly 2nd, maintained advantage 4 out, drew clear under pressure before 2 out where not fluent, slightly awkward last, stayed on flat
held up towards rear, headway into midfield 13th, ridden to chase leaders 4 out, kept on one pace from 3 out
midfield, headway to chase leaders 10th, ridden after 14th, lost ground quickly before 4 out, no extra
midfield, steady headway before 4 out, ridden 3 out, mistake 2 out, no extra
led narrowly, slow jump and headed 2nd, pressed leader from 3rd, ridden before 4 out, weakened from 3 out
held up in rear, ridden after 11th, lost touch before 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
prominent, ridden and lost ground before 4 out, in rear 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
close up, lost place 12th and reminder, headway back to chase leaders 14th, close 2nd 4 out, driven but no impression on leader 2 out, kept on from last
held up in midfield, headway 7th, chased leader when ridden approaching 4 out, one pace from 2 out
prominent, dropped back to midfield 3rd, towards rear 4th, mistake 6th, headway into midfield 11th, ridden 4 out, plugged on from 2 out
midfield, towards rear 4th, hit 11th, ridden and well off the pace approaching 4 out, ran on past beaten horses from 3 out, no extra
NonRunner
A wide-open handicap featuring several in-form stayers. Innisfree Lad is 4-5 this term and course and distance winner Crossley Tender narrowly failed to complete a four-timer over hurdles here last time, though might struggle to confirm earlier form at the track with Cobolobo. Eden Du Houx should have more to offer having only raced twice over fences so far and Le Boizelo has been steadily coming to hand but Caltex has disappointed so far this season. GO WHATEVER, a mud-lover with bags of stamina, led until approaching the home turn at Ascot and then rallied in the closing stages. That was his fencing bow and reappearance and he jumped well in the main so there are grounds for optimism that he’ll take a further step forward here. Arthur's Gift is back on a winning mark and could also play a part.
Ocean Cove (IRE) 7-1 (11-7) Soon in rear, slow 3rd, behind after, pulled up after 3 out, at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Arthur's Gift (IRE) 10-1 (11-8) Chased winner until 15th, weakened 2 out, lost 4th flat, 5th of 11, 25 3/4l behind Storm Control (11-6) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Cobolobo (FR) 18-1 (12-0) Midfield, not fluent 6th, headway 12th, ridden before 4 out, still in touch 2 out, stayed on under pressure to take 2nd flat, 2nd of 10, 1 3/4l behind Crossley Tender (10-10) at Exeter 3m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Eden Du Houx (FR) 11-2 (11-4) Led narrowly, not fluent 10th, pressed 4 out, pushed along 3 out, headed and weakened after 2 out, no more, 4th of 9, 10 3/4l behind Ofalltheginjoints (11-10) at Exeter 3m hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Le Boizelo (FR) 11-2 (11-9) Chased leaders, lost place 7th, pecked next, tailed off when hit 5 out, rallied and kept on run-in, went 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 7, 8 3/4l behind Call Me Vic (11-3) at Sandown 3m hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Caltex (FR) 8-1 (11-2) Mistake 1st, held up, headway into mid-division 5 out, no impression after 2 out, 8th of 11, 12 1/2l behind Quarenta (11-12) at Ascot 3m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Go Whatever (IRE) 7-1 (10-13) Led 1st, headed 16th, lost place and beaten after 3 out, went 4th towards finish, 4th of 7, 13 3/4l behind Demachine (11-6) at Ascot 3m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
St Erney 66-1 (11-8) Prominent, mistake and weakened 14th, remote 13th final bend, 15th of 18, dist behind Jersey Bean (11-7) at Exeter 3m hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Mcnamaras Band (IRE) 33-1 (10-11) Held up, not fluent 3rd, ridden before 4 out, tailed off 3 out, 13th of 18, 33 1/4l behind Demachine (10-9) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp (3) gs in Oct.
Butterwick Brook (IRE) 9-1 (11-6) Towards rear, headway on outside 14th, ridden before 4 out, chased leaders 2 out, weakened before last, 5th of 10, 10 3/4l behind Crossley Tender (10-10) at Exeter 3m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Crossley Tender 9-4jfav (11-6) Midfield, mistake 8th, ridden after 3 out, switched left and almost upsides last, ran on under pressure flat, 2nd of 5, 1/2l behind Huntsmans Jog (11-13) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Innisfree Lad (IRE) 2-1fav (11-2) Settled towards rear, took closer order 9th, smooth headway into third 4 out, went second after next, led after 2 out, clear when slight mistake last, pushed out, won at Hereford 3m 1f hcp (4) sft in Dec beating Billy Bronco (11-9) by 7 1/2l, 7 ran.
Telson Barley (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) Towards rear, blundered 4th, headway 4 out, ridden 2 out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 8, 12l behind Friends Don't Ask (10-8) at Fakenham 3m 5f hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Tea Time On Mars 13-2 (10-13) Contested lead, definite advantage after 3 out, ridden after 2 out, kept on gamely, won at Bangor-on-Dee 3m hcp (3) sft in Nov beating Checkitout (11-12) by 2 1/4l, 8 ran.
