jumped left, held up in mid-division on inside, mistake 5th, headway in back straight, bumped 4 out, stayed on same pace
held up in rear, ridden and struggling in back straight, soon behind, pulled up before 4 out
held up in mid-division, headway towards the end of the back straight, ridden and lost place before not fluent 4 out
handy on outside, not fluent 3rd or 4th, struggling towards the end of the back straight, pulled up before 4 out
held up, headway after 7th, went 2nd before 4 out, led next, headed last, no impression towards finish
mid-division, closed back straight, went 3rd before 4 out, every chance 2 out, stayed on same pace flat
held up towards rear, mistake 6th, headway end of back straight, blundered 4 out, no extra soon after
held up, closed after 4th, ridden after 7th, lost place 4 out
reminders leaving start, went prominent 1st, led 3rd until 4th, lost place after 7th, pulled up before 4 out
led until 3rd, led next, headed 3 out, led again last, stayed on well
prominent, not fluent 4th, mistake 6th, lost place end of back straight, pulled up before last
Question marks hang over many of these but Winged Crusader beat a subsequent winner at Uttoxeter last month and looks capable of going close again off a 7lb higher mark. However, he was a long way behind RED ADMIRABLE at Bangor in November and Graeme McPherson's nine-year-old can probably be forgiven his latest run in a much better contest at Haydock. Kudu Shine started favourite at Wincanton on Boxing Day but fell at the first while Smadynium and Alberobello both ran poorly last time. Buckhorn Tom has place claims again, however, as he's lightly-raced over fences and his yard seems to be in decent form at present.
Templebraden (IRE) 12-1 (10-11) Mid-division, making progress when hit 10th, ridden and one pace 5 out, chasing leaders when unseated rider 3 out, in a race won by Minellahalfcentury (10-9) at Chepstow 3m nov hcap ch (3) gs in Dec, 8 ran.
Smadynium (FR) 9-2 (11-5) Held up mid-division, weakened before 4 out, 6th of 8, well behind Arctic Ben (11-11) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs.
Red Admirable (IRE) 8-1 (10-0) In touch, ridden to challenge after 3 out, never on terms, 5th of 8, 23l behind Broadway Buffalo (10-11) at Haydock 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) hvy in Dec.
Winged Crusader (IRE) 7-4fav (11-7) Tracked leaders, pecked 9th, led 11th, joined 3 out (usual 4 out), 1 length advantage when not fluent last, ridden and kept on flat, won at Uttoxeter 3m hcp chs 0-110 (4) hvy in Dec beating Dixie Bull (9-11) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
Alberobello (IRE) 9-1 (11-3) In touch, losing place when mistake 11th, tailed off and pulled up approaching 4 out, in a race won by Strollawaynow (11-2) at Taunton 2m 7f nov hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Dec, 8 ran.
Waldorf Salad 16-1 (10-13) Tracked leader, mistake 6th, slow 5 out, weakened before 3 out, tailled off when pulled up next, in a race won by Cup Final (11-6) at Sandown 2m 6f hcp hdl (2) sft in Dec, 9 ran.
Kudu Shine 11-4fav (11-1) Held up in touch when fell 1st, in a race won by Loch Ba (11-8) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Dec, 9 ran.
Danners (IRE) 7-2 (11-4) Towards rear, last when not fluent 8th, modest headway before hitting 4 out, soon outpaced, no impression, plugged on flat, 6th of 11, 25l behind The Ould Lad (11-10) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs in Nov.
The Happy Warrior 7-1 (11-1) Chased leaders, until lost place and dropped to rear before 5th, behind when jumped slowly 9th, pulled up before next, in a race won by Silvergrove (11-2) at Exeter 3m hcp ch 0-110 (4) sft, 10 ran.
Buckhorn Tom 6-1 (10-0) Prominent, pushed along 7th, not fluent and lost a few places 9th, went modest 3rd 4 out, no chance with front pair, weakened after 2 out, not fluent last, 3rd of 11, 38l behind Adrenalin Flight (11-1) at Exeter 4m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Dec.
Brave Encounter (IRE) 11-2 (12-0) Led aft 2; stayed on wl, won at South Tetcott 3m ptp sft in May beating Sutton Storm (12-0) by 3l, 11 ran.
