held up last, pushed along and lost place 7th, weakened 9th
held up in touch, headway and chased leader 10th, ridden 3 out, one pace from 2 out
led to 7th and chased leaders, ridden 4 out, one pace and blundered last
prominent, ridden 8th, weakened approaching 10th
prominent, driven along 7th, one pace from 4 out
held up towards rear, headway and chased leader after 8th, jumped well 11th, soon led, quickened clear 3 out, stumbled last, easily
chased leader, led 7th, blundered and headed 10th, ridden and every chance 4 out, jumped slowly 3 out, kept on one pace from last
Harris Bay, Walcot Lad and King Coal look the three to concentrate on in this competitive handicap chase and the vote is given to Harris Bay. The selection has been in the form of his life of late and has won his last two races in good style, most notably when beating Supreme Tadgh last time out. Granted, he is rising in the weights but he is a progressive type and, under similar conditions here, he is taken to win again. Walcot Lad rates the main danger as he won well last time out when beating Bewleys Guest. However, this looks more competitive and he lacks the scope of the selection and, for that reason, he is opposed. King Coal is another that could go well but he was 22 lengths behind the selection last time and, although he is better off at the weights here, he still has a little to find. Of the remainder, Stormy Skye would have place claims on his best form but he took a heavy fall last time out and it is hard to know if his confidence has been affected, while Alphabetical looks to be on a handy mark and could go well at a price but he is hard to win with and, for the winner, we return to the progressive Harris Bay.
Native Performance (IRE) 12-1 (11-6) Behind and mistakes, lost touch 11th, blundered 13th, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Soeur Fontenail (10-0) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (D) gs in Mar, 5 ran.
Harris Bay 9-4fav (11-6) Held up in rear, headway to track leader 10th, led approaching 2 out, hit last, stayed on flat, won at Sandown 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-120 (D) sft in Dec beating Supreme Tadgh (11-2) by 3l, 5 ran.
King Coal (IRE) 5-2 (11-12) Led 2nd, clear 8th, ridden and headed 2 out, blundered last, finished tired, 3rd of 5, 22l behind Harris Bay (11-6) at Sandown 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-120 (D) sft in Dec.
The Newsman (IRE) 40-1 (10-9) Always behind, 6th of 12, 40l behind Soeur Fontenail (10-5) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (D) gd in Nov.
Stormy Skye (IRE) 11-2 (11-8) Tracking leaders when blundered and fell at the 7th in race won by Muttley Maguire (11-7) at Folkestone 3m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (E) gd in Nov, 8 ran.
Alphabetical (IRE) 11-4fav (11-5) Held up, headway approaching 10th, ridden after 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 5th of 12, 19l behind Lost In Normandy (10-0) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (E) hvy in Dec.
Walcot Lad (IRE) 6-1 (11-9) Chased leader, kept on to lead approaching last, driven out, won at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp chs 0-90 (F) gd in Dec beating Bewleys Guest (10-3) by 2l, 10 ran.
Wild Power (GER) 16-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, ridden and headway 3 out, weakened flat, 3rd of 10, well behind Jolly Boy (9-11) at Huntingdon 2m cnd hcp chs 0-105 (E) gd in Dec.
