in touch on inside until lost place 5th, towards rear when hit next, rallied to chase leaders approaching 3 out, went 2nd 2 out, never any chance with winner
held up towards rear, headway and dived at 6th, chased leaders from 3 out, blundered next, weakened soon after
chased leaders, weakened soon after 4 out, tailed off
raced wide, behind, headway after 4th, close up after 4 out, hung right on bend under pressure and weakened before 3 out
always towards rear, ridden and no impression before 3 out,
always in rear, lost touch 4 out, tailed off
led, headed 3 out, lost 2nd soon after, ridden and weakened before next, well held in 4th when stumbled on landing last
mid-division on inside, weakened 4 out, tailed off
raced on inside, chased leader until 4th, stayed close up, headway to dispute 2nd 3 out, quickened to lead before next, soon clear, stayed on strongly
in touch on inside, weakened before 2 out
prominent, went 2nd 4th, hit 4 out, led 3 out, ridden and headed before 2 out and went left, modest 3rd when hit last
always behind, ridden and struggling after 5th, soon lost touch, tailed off
We make no excuses for putting yet another Paul Nicholls' inmate, DON'T TURN BACH, forward for this. Sure to be all the better for his fourth to Habbie Simpson at Warwick in November the seven-year-old, a winner of two bumpers in Ireland for Willie Mullins, will almost certainly do better when tackling fences but this isn't a particularly strong heat. Zakatal has proved hard to win with since arriving from France and blinkers didn't appear to have much effect at Wincanton last time, while Nemo Spirit didn't make the expected improvement over a longer trip at Hereford two weeks ago. Just Cloudy's bumper win has been franked, however, and he could have place claims along with Exeter runner-up Alla Svelta and winning pointer Storming Gale.
Alla Svelta (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, mistake 5th, ridden approaching 2 out, edged left before last, stayed on same pace, went 2nd near finish, no chance with winner, 2nd of 18, 4 1/2l behind Dare Me (11-4) at Exeter 2m 1f nh nov hdl (3) sft in Nov.
Don't Turn Bach (IRE) 7-2 (10-12) Held up in rear, headway before 4 out, chased leading trio after 3 out, no impression when hit last, 4th of 17, 14l behind Habbie Simpson (11-5) at Warwick 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Flying Award (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) Raced wide in mid-division, weakend after 4 out, hit next, 9th of 16, 45l behind Filbert (10-12) at Exeter 2m 3f nov hdl (4) gs.
Just Cloudy 5-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, headway on outer over 3f out, led well over 1f out, kept on, driven out, won at Uttoxeter 2m mdn NH flat (6) hvy in Dec beating Monbeg Dude (11-2) by 1 3/4l, 9 ran.
Little Frano (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, lost place 6th, soon behind, last of 10, well behind King Of Dubai (11-5) at Ffos Las 2m 6f mdn hdl (5) sft.
Naughtyatiz (IRE) 66-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, weakened before 3 out, tailed off, 7th of 8, well behind Mediolanum (10-12) at Ffos Las 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Nemo Spirit (IRE) 7-2 (11-0) In touch in mid-division, mistakes, ridden after 3 out, no impression from next, 5th of 11, 12l behind Minella Stars (11-0) at Hereford 2m 6f mdn hdl (5) hvy.
Run To Fly (IRE) 100-1 (11-2) Tracked leader, lost place before 4 out, soon behind, 7th of 10, 37l behind King Of Dubai (11-5) at Ffos Las 2m 6f mdn hdl (5) sft.
Storming Gale (IRE) 3-1 (11-7) Ld/disp, ld from 3out & 1l adv & gng best when lft well clr last, easily, won at Lismore 3m ire ptp gd in Mar beating Crafti Bookie (11-7) by dis, 15 ran.
Whispering Jack 100-1 (11-2) Always behind, 11th of 17, well behind Chablais (11-2) at Kempton 2m 5f nh nov hdl (3) gs.
Zakatal 13-2 (11-6) Tracked leaders, mistake 2nd, hit 8th, led before last, ridden and headed flat, staying on when hampered at bypassed final flight, no extra after, 3rd of 10, 7l behind Ballabriggs (11-6) at Wincanton 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) sft.
Starlet Mandy (IRE) 33-1 (10-9) Always towards rear, weakened 4 out, tailed off next, 7th of 12, well behind Alverstone (11-5) at Warwick 2m 5f mares NH nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.