held up towards rear, not fluent 2nd, not fluent and lost touch from 10th, plugged on from 2 out, no chance
held up in rear, closed on inside when not fluent 9th, not fluent 11th, weakened approaching 3 out
led, mistake 11th, not fluent 13th, headed after next, well held before 3 out
held up, last when not fluent and given reminders 7th, behind 9th, tailed off 11th, stayed on from 3 out, no chance
held up in rear, not fluent 1st or 4th, headway approaching 11th, went 2nd after 14th, no impression on winner when jumped right 2 out, closed last, hung left flat, unable to challenge
mid-division, headway 5th, stumbled after 14th, 3rd and stayed on same pace from before 3 out
tracked leaders, blundered 4th, not fluent 9th, weakened approaching 3 out, pulled up before last
tracked leader, not fluent 4th, led after 14th, clear 3 out, all out
tracked leaders, pushed along before 11th, lost place approaching next, pulled up after 14th
On Trend is tumbling down the weights and it would be no surprise to see him pop up somewhere before the end of the season but HANDY ANDY is another who has been taking on better opposition and he has the beating of Imperial Circus on Cheltenham running in November. He's been waiting for the better ground and can defy top weight. Aimigayle is still capable of going well in this grade but Max Bygraves has been difficult to keep sound. Qianshan Leader will also appreciate drying conditions and is back on a winning mark and Woodford County has taken well to fences but this is his toughest test so far.
Handy Andy (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Held up in mid-division, steady headway 9th, chased leaders next, weakened approaching 14th, behind and pulled up before next, in a race won by Restless Harry (11-5) at Newbury 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Jan, 11 ran.
Imperial Circus (IRE) 8-1 (10-8) Mid-division, headway 18th, outpaced 3 out, rallied approaching last, every chance flat, stayed on same pace towards finish, 4th of 13, 3l behind Sire Collonges (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m 7f hcp chs (2) gd in Dec.
Qianshan Leader (IRE) 18-1 (11-12) Chased leader, led 3rd, headed before 4 out, soon weakened, unseated rider last, in a race won by Major Malarkey (11-5) at Exeter 4m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Dec, 12 ran.
Woodford County 11-2 (10-13) Led, not fluent 10th, headed approaching 3 out, led again last, 3 lengths clear 100 yards out, held on well, won at Chepstow 3m nov hcp chs (0-125) (3) hvy in Feb beating Big Society (11-3) by 1l, 7 ran.
Lamboro Lad (IRE) 8-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, outpaced when mistake 14th, weakened after 5 out, behind when pulled up before next, in a race won by Firebird Flyer (10-12) at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-140 (3) sft in Feb, 8 ran.
Max Bygraves 16-1 (11-9) Mid-division, headway 5th, ridden and stayed on same pace from 2 out, went 3rd close home, no impression on front pair, 3rd of 16, 13l behind King Massini (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f cond hcp chs (4yo+) (3) gd in Dec.
Aimigayle 8-1 (10-1) Tracked leader, mistake 9th, led next, headed after 11th, stayed close up, led again 4 out, headed before 2 out, weakened last, 8th of 9, 29l behind Monbeg Dude (11-0) at Cheltenham 3m 1f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gd in Dec.
On Trend (IRE) 9-2fav (10-5) Niggled along in rear, well behind 16th, 7th of 10, 29l behind Relax (11-1) at Sandown 3m hcp chs (2) hvy in Feb.
Goring One (IRE) 10-1 (10-4) Chased leaders, went 3rd 18th, outpaced before 3 out, plugged on to 4th before last, 4th of 8, 8l behind Chartreux (11-5) at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs.
