chased leaders, went 2nd before 10th, weakened after 12th, tailed off when pulled up before last
mid-division, mistake 10th, behind from next, tailed off when pulled up after 3 out
mistakes, behind, hit 5th and next, tailed off when refused and unseated rider 9th
chased leader 3rd, led 9th, hit 11th, ridden and headed 2 out, weakened last
behind, driven along and stayed on under pressure from 3 out, led 2 out, headed last, no extra flat
chased leader to 3rd, prominent, hit 8th, weakened and mistake 4 out
in touch, blundered 10th, headway after 3 out, went 2nd 2 out, led last, hung left and idled flat but stayed on well
mid-division, ridden after 3 out, weakened into 5th when blundered 2 out
held up in rear, headway from 3 out, went 4th 2 out, kept on flat to take 3rd near finish
never travelling in rear, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
led to 9th, stayed handy, weakened before 4 out, tailed off
behind, headway into 7th but ridden when blundered and unseated rider 11th
never going well in rear, hit 2nd, tailed off when pulled up before 9th
close up, hit 4th, lost place next, never going well after, driven 8th, tailed off next, pulled up before 2 out
Alderbrook Girl is closely matched with Spanchil Hill on their running behind National Petition here in his last two starts and there should not be much to choose between the pair here but both may have to settle for minor honours behind MR BIG, who gets the vote. Charlie Mann's runners continue in good form and this ex-Irish gelding has shown improved form for current connections in his last two outings, latterly when chasing home Constantius at Huntingdon, and a reproduction of that effort may suffice in this company. Royal Hilarity lost no caste in defeat behind Cybora at Leicester last time and the Ian Williams-trained gelding has to be considered. Nick Gifford's Himba faces no easy task off a 7lb higher mark than when successful here over two miles last time, while Perange is not certain to be suited by the drop back in trip. National Diploma unseated his rider in the race won by National Petition last month and has every chance if his jumping holds out but a better bet looks to be Mr Big, who is taken to open his account for Charlie Mann.
Napolito (FR) 16-1 (11-9) Held up, not fluent 2nd, ridden 7th, soon lost touch, 12th of 15, well behind Colonial Jim (9-11) at Fontwell 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Nov.
Chimichurri (FR) 9-1 (10-6) Led 2nd until 5th, led 7th until 12th, soon weakened, behind when refused 2 out in race won by Mylo (11-5) at N Abbot 2m 5f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gf in May, 9 ran.
Danse Macabre (IRE) 20-1 (9-13) Raced keenly, prominent 3rd, led 7th until after 3 out, weakened after next, 6th of 8, 22l behind Midnight Chase (11-5) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in Dec.
Royal Hilarity (IRE) 9-2 (10-12) Tracked leader approaching 2nd, chased leaders, mistake and not much room 3rd, mistakes 8th and 9th, challenge from 3 until after 2 out, weakened flat, 2nd of 10, 14l behind Cybora (10-9) at Leicester 2m 4f chs 0-90 (5) gd in Nov.
Perange (FR) 8-1 (10-1) Held up, headway 7th, led 3 out, headed soon after next, weakened flat, 3rd of 10, 24l behind Wild Ground (10-9) at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Apr.
Brimham Boy 4-1 (11-12) Tracked leader, joined leader 7th, led after 8th, headed approaching 3 out, weakened approaching last, last of 4, 7l behind Shake The Barley (11-11) at Lingfield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-90 (5) hvy in Nov.
Mr Big (IRE) 3-1fav (10-5) Held up in mid-division, headway halfway, led 15th, headed last, kept on same pace, 2nd of 16, 1 1/2l behind Constantius (10-2) at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Dec.
Spanchil Hill 5-1 (11-8) Behind, 4th driven 3 out, went poor 3rd 2 out, 3rd of 10, 14l behind National Petition (11-9) at Folkestone 3m 1f cnd hcp chs (5) sft in Dec.
Hello My Lovely 8-1 (11-7) Towards rear, 6th and no chance 3 out, 4th of 10, 18l behind Himba (10-5) at Folkestone 2m nov hcp chs 0-90 (5) gs in Dec.
Himba 6-1 (10-5) Raced in 3rd, 2nd and driven when mistake 3 out, in lead flat, won at Folkestone 2m nov hcp chs 0-90 (5) gs in Dec beating Guns of Love (9-11) by 2 1/2l, 10 ran.
Lutin Collonges (FR) 5-1 (10-6) Held up in close touch, led 10th, made rest, pressed 2 out, good jump and in command from last, ridden out, won at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-90 (5) hvy in Dec beating Salsero (11-12) by 3l, 9 ran.
Champagne Rossini (IRE) 33-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, mistake 6th, soon weakened, 12th of 17, well behind Tarkesar (11-4) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl (5) sft in Dec.
Willow Hall 18-1 (10-0) Led, headed 15th, weakened approaching 2 out, 11th of 16, well behind Constantius (10-2) at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Dec.
National Diploma (IRE) 11-4fav (10-0) Chasing leader when blundered and unseated rider at the 9th in race won by National Petition (11-9) at Folkestone 3m 1f cnd hcp chs (5) sft in Dec, 10 ran.
Alderbrook Girl (IRE) 7-1 (9-11) Mid-division, led 11th, 5 lengths clear 2 out, weakened after last, headed final 100 yards, 2nd of 10, 3l behind National Petition (11-9) at Folkestone 3m 1f cnd hcp chs (5) sft in Dec.
