held up in rear, headway 13th, went close 4th 4 out, ridden to lead between last 2, driven and always holding rival flat
led, joined 9th, ridden and headed after 3 out, weakened before last
held up in last place, ridden and some headway 12th, beaten before 4 out
close up, lost place 6th, ridden next and beaten
with leader until mistake 8th, mistake 11th and 12th, jumped slowly next, soon weakened
tracked leaders, fell 12th
held up, headway to track leaders 6th, ridden and mistake 4 out, joined winner between last 2, soon driven, stayed on well, always held by winner
mistake 1st, mid-division, headway 8th, joined leader next, mistake 10th, ridden to lead after 3 out, headed between last 2 and immediately beaten
The best race on the card this, and we think TONI ALCALA can get the better of Alfadora and Rakalackey. A year ago here, in a foxhunter, Alfadora had a big weight advantage over the selection, but didn't finish very far ahead of him. More recently they've both had wins to their name, and Alfadora carries a seven pounds penalty for winning a lesser race at Uttoxeter a week ago. He's not the most consistent, but being turned out quickly could pay dividends. Rackalackey is giving away more than a stone to both Toni Alcala and Alfadora, and that could prove telling, depending on how much rain there is. This is his first run since October and he's not won for nearly two years, so this could be a tall order. Paul Nicholls' yard have been going well and any support for the bottom-weight Foolish Myth might be encouraging, given his form of late's been nothing special, failing to complete two of his last three races. He has won over further though, when successful in a hunter chase back in the autumn. Megaton won this race last year, but has done nothing of note since and is now a stone worse off, and a repeat would seem unlikely. There's more than ¿6,000 for the winner, and we think it'll be going to connections of Toni Alcala.
Rakalackey 9-2 (11-6) In touch until blundered and lost place 12th, struggling when blundered 14th, tailed off, 5th of 7, 43l behind Can'T Buy Time (11-1) at Ascot 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Nov.
Megaton 7-1 (11-12) Led until 7th, stayed prominent until ridden 4 out, soon beaten, 6th of 7, well behind Justwhateverulike (10-10) at Kelso 3m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Apr.
Livingonaknifedge (IRE) 16-1 (10-5) In rear, weakened 4 out, 7th of 10, 40l behind Tarotino (11-7) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd.
Big Rob (IRE) 14-1 (11-11) Prominent, hit 10th, ridden 11th, weakened next, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Kitski (11-11) at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Feb, 18 ran.
Toni Alcala 7-1 (10-8) With leader until led soon after 3 out, clear from 2 out, blundered badly last, ran on, won at Huntingdon 3m hcp ch 0-110 (4) gf beating Categorical (11-12) by 29l, 8 ran.
Alfadora 5-1 (10-13) Held up in touch, ridden approaching 3 out, led 2 out, kept on well from last, won at Uttoxeter 3m 2f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd beating Native City (11-6) by 2l, 9 ran.
Leopold (SLO) 10-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, weakened from 3 out, 5th of 8, 18l behind King Troy (11-9) at Market Rasen 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-115 (3) gd in Apr.
Foolish Myth 13-8fav (11-10) Held up, headway 14th, ridden to chase leader 3 out, weakened quickly 2 out, pulled up before last, in a race won by Beauchamp Prince (11-6) at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp 0-100 (4) gd in Aug, 11 ran.
