chased leading pair but off the pace, reminders after 7th, lost 3rd 10th, left modest 3rd again and hampered 14th, no chance with leading duo
led and disputed, hit 15th, every chance when awkward 2 out, 1 length down last, no extra run-in
led and disputed, in command 2 out,1 length ahead last, driven clear run-in
chased leaders, pushed along when left 4th 14th, ridden and no impression before 4 out, weakened before next
held up, headway chasing leaders after 7th, went 3rd 13th, knuckled badly on landing and all but fell next, pulled up
held up, mistake 8th, left in modest 5th at 14th, went poor 4th before 3 out
held up, fell 1st
So Fine started favourite at Wincanton last month but lost his action and was pulled up for the second time in a row. Sonny The One was also favourite last month, at Lingfield, but was struggling when unseating his rider and failed to complete again, along with Bears Rails, in a race at Wincanton which was voided when none of the field got round. AMIRAL COLLONGES won off a 3lb higher mark over hurdles last season and ran his best race since when runner-up in the Lincolnshire National on Boxing Day. He was in front at this distance and can gain compensation. The Chuckmeister has only been raised 5lb for a seven-length course and distance victory last month so can’t be ignored.
So Fine (IRE) 7-2fav (11-8) Disputed lead, led 14th, headed and lost action 18th, soon pulled up, at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Sonny The One 9-4fav (11-6) Tracked leader until 4th, chased leaders, pushed along in dispute of 4th when blundered badly and unseated rider 4 out, at Lingfield 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Bears Rails 5-1 (11-5) In touch, in mid-division, lost place 13th, mistake 4 out, rallied after 3 out, 4th and beaten when not fluent next, stayed on same pace, 4th of 10, 12 1/4l behind Brandon Hill (11-12) at Warwick 3m hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Amiral Collonges (FR) 8-1 (10-10) Keen, led, headed soon after 2nd, prominent, led again 13th, ridden and headed flat, 2nd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Gonalston Cloud (11-12) at Market Rasen 3m 4f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
The Chuckmeister (IRE) 11-1 (11-6) Tracked leader, led before last, kept on well, ridden out, won at Fontwell 3m 1f hcp (4) gd in Dec beating King Charlie (10-0) by 7l, 8 ran.
How's My Friend 7-2 (12-0) Led to 2; outpcd 13; kpt on 3 out; no ch w wnr, 2nd of 5, 10l behind Perfectly Willing (12-0) at Larkhill 3m gf in Mar.
Roparta Avenue 9-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, outpaced before 9th, closed next, beaten before 3 out, 4th and no extra next, 4th of 6, 33 1/4l behind Easy Street (11-12) at Fontwell 3m 1f hcp (4) gd in Jun.
