slight lead until 6th, chased leader, went badly right 11th, pushed along and badly outpaced before 4 out, rallied on inside before next, went 3rd run-in, almost snatched 2nd, no chance with winner
held up in last pair, pushed along before 3 out, plugging on when brought down 2 out
jumped right at times and raced wide, chased leaders, went 2nd approaching 11th, slight peck 3 out, hanging left but every chance when fell 2 out
raced wide, held up, steady headway 10th, hit 13th, left 2nd 2 out, led approaching last where left clear stayed on well
held up towards rear, headway chasing leaders 11th, 3rd after 13th, blundered and weakened 2 out
pressed leader, led 6th, ridden before 2 out, headed approaching and blundered last, no chance after, just held on for 2nd
chased leaders, mistake and lost place 8th, hit next, unsighted when slightly hampered and stumbled badly 11th, rallied approaching 4 out, left 3rd 2 out, weakened into 4th run-in
held up in last pair, behind and struggling 13th, tailed off when blundered 4 out
NonRunner
Downtown Getaway won a handicap hurdle last year off a mark of 131. He runs off 120 in this and, though hasn’t pulled up any trees so far over fences, is arguably the pick of the weights. Ashfield Paddy was only beaten half-a-length at Bangor last month but has become hard to place. EL Paso Wood didn’t get far in the Becher Chase at Aintree on his UK debut but this is a much more realistic target for the French import and Philip Armson is proving good value for his 7lb claim. However, HONORARY COLONEL looks the one to be on having come up against a nice prospect on his chasing bow at Lingfield.
Southern Sam 11-2 (10-13) Towards rear, some headway in 5th 4 out, left modest 4th 2 out, went 3rd run-in, 3rd of 11, 10 1/4l behind Notachance (10-10) at Exeter 3m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Ashfield Paddy (IRE) 12-1 (11-11) Tracked leaders, not fluent 8th, ridden to lead before 2 out, headed last, stayed on, 2nd of 11, 1/2l behind Yggdrasil (10-11) at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Oneupmanship (IRE) 5-2fav (11-9) Mid-division, raced freely, mistake 5th, closed going well under 4 out and soon disputed lead, headed 3 out, ridden over 2 out and soon weakened, 4th of 8, 10 1/4l behind To Be Sure (10-3) at Ffos Las 3m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Downtown Getaway (IRE) 66-1 (11-7) Raced in mid-division, ridden 5 out, no impression, pulled up 2 out, at Chepstow 3m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
El Paso Wood (FR) 66-1 (10-0) Unseated rider 2nd in rear, at Aintree 3m 2f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Party Fuzz 6-4jfav (11-3) Wandered at some flights, slight lead until after 1st, chased winner, led again 5th until 3 out, chased winner, ridden before 2 out, 2 lengths down when awkward and lost 2nd at the last, no extra in 3rd, 4th of 12, 8 1/2l behind Valsheda (11-3) at Exeter 2m 7f (4) gs in Mar.
Honorary Colonel (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Towards rear, headway into mid-division 4 out, pushed along before 3 out, hampered jumping last, kept on but no chance with winner, 2nd of 13, 4 1/4l behind Seven No Trumps (11-7) at Lingfield 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Judge Earle (IRE) 5-1 (11-4) Prominent, went 2nd 6th, led after 8th to 9th, weakened after 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp (3) gf in Jul.
Poldark Cross (IRE) 9-4fav (11-12) Held up towards rear, mistake 10th, headway when blundered next, weakened after 3 out, pulled up before last, at Bangor-on-Dee 3m hcp (4) gs in Oct.
