held up in rear, went right 7th, headway 9th, chased leaders 11th, went 3rd after 4 out, no chance with leading duo when pulled up before last
led 2nd, made most after, not fluent 8th, pressed 3 out, ridden and headed before last, weakened flat
prominent, chased leader 3rd, weakened 4 out, soon struggling, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
chased leading trio, dropped to rear and under pressure 6th, ridden and struggling 11th, tailed off and pulled up soon after
led until 2nd, close up until lost place 5th, last and struggling 9th, tailed off and pulled up after 11th
chased leaders from 4th, weakened before 4 out, tailed off and pulled up before next
held up in 7th, just about in touch in 5th when mistake 7th, lost touch and struggling 11th, tailed off and pulled up before next
in touch, chased leaders from 4th, went 2nd before 4 out, challenging when pecked 2 out, led before last, stayed on strongly and came clear flat
Nonrunner
Topless had had 21 attempts to get off the mark over fences but seems destined to always find at least one too good. If she is to get her head in front, it will be in a race like this but her consistency means she gets little respite from the handicapper. Douryna had every chance when favourite at Taunton last week, while Abbey Dore has been raised a further 3lb since Marias Rock brought his winning run to an end at Plumpton. Alteranthela still has something to learn about jumping fences so we'll take a chance on GUYDUS. Venetia Williams' string has come to life after the freeze and her lightly-raced mare was clearly in need of the run when behind Topless at Towcester last month - she's better off at the weights now.
Herald Angel (FR) 12-1 (10-1) Tracked leader until ridden between 4 out and 3 out, weakened 2 out, left 4th last, 4th of 5, 31l behind Quinder Spring (10-0) at Market Rasen 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Nov.
Topless (IRE) 11-2 (11-11) Led until 7th, led 10th, ridden 3 out, headed last, readily held by winner, 2nd of 9, 2l behind Aztec Treasure (11-9) at Towcester 3m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Dec.
Bob Casey (IRE) 11-1 (10-11) Led, jumped right throughout, headed after 5th, mistake next, weakened 2 out, 3rd of 6, 23l behind The Rainbow Hunter (11-4) at Ffos Las 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Nov.
Alteranthela (IRE) 10-1 (11-4) Led or disputed lead until driven and lost place before 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off next, took 3rd near finish, no chance with front pair, 3rd of 7, 41l behind Canal Bank (11-3) at Exeter 3m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Dec.
Absolute Shambles 6-1 (10-8) Held up in 4th, lost place 10th, struggling 13th, no danger after, tailed off 3 out, 5th of 7, well behind Sarahs Gift (10-12) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gf in Sep.
Quartz Du Montceau (FR) 12-1 (10-7) Mid-division, pushed along 12th, soon outpaced, stayed on before 2 out, never on terms, 7th of 12, 27l behind Rey Nacarado (11-6) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Dec.
Douryna 3-1fav (11-9) Chased leader, led 5th until after 7th, led again and blundered 8th, ridden and headed 2 out, weakened to 3rd and blundered last, 3rd of 9, 6l behind Walk Tall (11-7) at Taunton 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Dec.
Abbey Dore (IRE) 5-2fav (11-2) Held up towards rear, headway 11th, headway to chase leaders 4 out, ridden to challenge 2 out, kept on under pressure, never reached winner, 2nd of 11, 1l behind Marias Rock (11-0) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp 0-90 (5) gs in Dec.
Guydus (IRE) 16-1 (11-8) Held up towards rear, riddden after 11th, in touch 13th, no impression 4 out, weakened next, 4th of 9, well behind Aztec Treasure (11-9) at Towcester 3m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Dec.
Fourpointone 4-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 4 out, pulled up soon after 3 out, in a race won by Chico Time (11-5) at Market Rasen 3m 5f hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft in Nov, 6 ran.
