mid-division, jumped left 3rd, headway on outside 6th, weakened before 3 out, tailed off
held up towards rear on outside, headway 6th, every chance 3 out, weakened approaching last
held up towards rear, headway 7th, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off
prominent, ridden and lost place after 7th, weakened before 3 out
led until after 1st, tracked leader, led again 6th, headed 3 out, weakened approaching last
mid-division, headway on inside after 4th, led after 3 out, landed awkwardly and headed 2 out, stayed on well to lead again towards finish
mid-division, in touch 7th, outpaced 3 out, weakened after 2 out, mistake last
held up towards rear, headway after 7th, mistake 2 out, led 2 out, driven flat, headed towards finish
tracked leaders, hit 6th, ridden before 3 out, soon lost place
held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, ridden after 2 out, stayed on flat
tracked leaders, challenged 7th, weakened before 2 out
led after 1st, blundered 4th, not fluent next, headed 6th, weakened after 7th, tailed off
held up in rear, mistake 4th, well beaten after 7th, tailed off
held up in touch, challenged after 6th, led 3 out, soon headed, no extra when mistake last
A cracking contest with the weights headed by Oscara Dara, who landed a gamble in the Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton three weeks ago. Double Ross had Balder Succes well behind when keeping on well in the Ladbroke at Ascot in December, the latter having earlier beaten Hollow Tree over 2m at Haydock. Miss Milborne arrives in good form, as does El Dancer, while Rebecca Curtis runs three with Patrick Corbett's claim likely to help novice The Romford Pele. TANERKO EMERY goes from strength-to-strength and revels in heavy ground. He's shot up the weights and this is easily the best race he's contested but it may just be worth risking David Pipe's improving seven-year-old while he's still at the right end of the handicap as the longer trip shouldn't be a problem. Medinas has a chance at the weights and looks the pick of the remainder.
Oscara Dara (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Raced wide and held up in mid-division, headway to chase leaders 4 out, hit next, went 2nd before led 2 out, 5 lengths ahead when awkward and stumbled last, soon recovered and stayed on well flat, pushed out, won at Kempton 2m 5f Listed hcp hdl (1) sft in Jan beating Romeo Americo (9-11) by 3 1/2l, 18 ran.
Balder Succes (FR) 7-1 (11-4) In touch until blundered badly and not much room 3rd, soon lost place, behind and struggling before 4 out, tailed off, 16th of 21, well behind Cause Of Causes (10-13) at Ascot 2m Listed hcp hdl (1) hvy in Dec.
Hector's Choice (FR) 16-1 (11-2) Tracked leader until 6th, not fluent 10th, went 2nd again next until 4 out, weakened 2 out, 4th of 10, 27l behind Bless The Wings (10-11) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp chs (2) gs in Nov.
Hollow Tree 20-1 (11-12) Prominent, ridden 3 out, no extra next, 7th of 18, 23l behind Ely Brown (11-0) at Warwick 3m 1f hcp hdl (2) sft in Jan.
Double Ross (IRE) 14-1 (10-13) Made most, pressed fom 4 out, ridden and headed 2 out, no extra in 4th before last, 4th of 21, 17l behind Cause Of Causes (10-13) at Ascot 2m Listed hcp hdl (1) hvy in Dec.
Medinas (FR) 8-1 (11-7) Mid-division on inside, headway when mistake 3 out, effort and every chance on inside after 2 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace, no impression flat, 4th of 12, 10l behind At Fishers Cross (10-12) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl (2) hvy in Dec.
El Dancer (GER) 16-1 (10-4) Held up in touch, good headway to 3rd travelling well approaching 3 out, chased winner from 2 out, every chance when edged left flat, found no extra and held towards finish, 2nd of 9, nk behind African Gold (10-0) at Newbury 2m 5f hcp hdl (2) hvy in Dec.
Peckhamecho (IRE) 9-1 (11-4) In touch, chased leaders 2 out, soon hard driven, no extra flat, 3rd of 6, 6l behind Lyvius (10-7) at Newbury 2m lst hcp hdl (0-150) (1) sft in Nov.
Miss Milborne 8-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, ridden after 8th, blundered 3 out, soon well beaten, plugged on to take modest 4th flat, 4th of 9, 20l behind Tweedledrum (9-7) at Kempton 3m mrs hcp hdl (2) hvy in Dec.
Tanerko Emery (FR) 7-4fav (12-2) Behind, headway 3 out, tracked leaders next, led approaching last, soon clear, easily, won at Lingfield 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (4) hvy in Dec beating Colebrooke (11-9) by 5l, 8 ran.
Trop Fort (FR) 8-1 (11-4) Jumped right, led until 5th, led next, left clear 2 out, comfortably, won at Newton Abbot 2m 3f nh nov hdl (3) gd in Aug beating Victor Leudorum (11-1) by 4l, 12 ran.
Boyfromnowhere (IRE) 9-2 (11-4) In touch on outside, driven after 2 out, kept on same pace, no impression before last, 4th of 7, 29l behind Coneygree (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m nov hdl G2 (1) hvy in Dec.
Tiger O'Toole (IRE) 7-1 (10-10) Mistake 2nd and 6th, always behind, jumped right final 2, tailed off, 8th of 11, 33l behind Bless The Wings (11-2) at Wetherby 2m 4f listed hcp chs (1) gs in Nov.
The Romford Pele (IRE) 10-3 (10-9) Tracked leaders, headway 4 out, led next, ridden last, stayed on under pressure flat, won at Chepstow 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Dec beating Sin Bin (10-9) by 2l, 9 ran.
