chased leaders, not fluent 2nd, went 2nd 5th, ridden and every chance 2 out, edged right before last and held, lost 2nd flat
held up in rear, ridden after 5th, well beaten before 3 out
held up in rear, not fluent 1st or 4th, headway after 5th, switched left before last, went 2nd flat, no impression on winner
jumped right, led 1st until not fluent 4th, weakened after next
led until 1st, chased leader, led 4th, clear from last, stayed on well, comfortably
mid-division, closed after 5th, switched left after 3 out, not fluent 2 out, 4th and held last
held up in mid-division, not fluent 2nd, headway after 5th, outpaced 3 out, soon weakened
NonRunner
Word Has It has placed in points and won over hurdles and is a rare runner here for Donald McCain, though fell at the first on his chasing bow. THOR DE CERISY was only 1-14 over hurdles but chased home a couple of subsequent winners on his first run over fences and will know more today. Tanganyika has been very lightly raced and starts off on a lowly mark but Allavina has been hard to place since switching to fences. Blacko weakened quickly over hurdles here last month but that should have blown away a few cobwebs.
Word Has It (IRE) 8-1 (11-6) Midfield, shaken up when not fluent 2 out, kept on run-in but no match for first 2, 3rd of 7, 9 1/2l behind Lebowski (11-1) at Wetherby 2m hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Allavina (IRE) 18-1 (12-0) In rear, headway out wide 3 out, soon pushed along and outpaced, plugged on in distant 3rd, 3rd of 5, 13l behind Mullenbeg (11-1) at Ludlow 2m hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Zambezi Fix (FR) 12-1 (11-7) In touch, ridden and headway after 4 out, no impression from 3 out, 4th of 9, 28 1/2l behind Playful Saint (12-0) at Leicester 2m hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Blacko (FR) 25-1 (11-3) Led, went clear 2nd, reduced lead 5th, headed and weakened quickly turning in, eased when no chance, 9th of 10, dist behind Time Flies By (11-6) at Ffos Las 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Thor De Cerisy (FR) 28-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, led after 5th, went left 7th, went left and hit next, not fluent last, soon headed and no extra in 3rd run-in, 3rd of 12, 6 1/2l behind Bill Baxter (11-11) at Lingfield 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Tanganyika (FR) 11-4fav (12-1) Chased leaders, disputing 2 1/2 lengths 2nd when fell 2 out, at Uttoxeter 2m hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Port Or Starboard (IRE) 7-2fav (12-2) Front mid-division, pushed along home turn, weakened 2 out, 6th of 11, 21 3/4l behind Kapitaliste (10-2) at Newton Abbot 2m 2f hcp (5) gd in May.
Ideal Pal (IRE) 15-2 (9-11) Tracked leaders, ridden entering straight, weakened, 12th of 14, 15 3/4l behind Supposedtobe (9-2) at Roscommon 1m 2f gd in Aug.
