tracked leaders until not fluent and slightly lost place 3rd, rallied approaching 5th, 2nd 2 out, challenged going well last, led run-in, always just doing enough
tracked leader, went right and bumped 9th, led approaching 14th, went right and pecked 2 out, joined last, headed run-in, kept on but always held
last pair, jumped slowly 4th, went right 12th, struggling before 14th, blundered next and pulled up
tracked leaders, hit 13th, pushed along before next, weakened before 4 out, poor 4th when mistake 3 out and pulled up
in rear, struggling 13th, tailed off and pulled up before next
chased leading pair, went 2nd 9th until approaching 11th, 2nd again 14th, every chance 3 out, mistake and lost 2nd next, kept on same pace, no chance with leading duo
led, hit 8th, headed approaching 14th, weakened under pressure next, lost touch approaching 4 out, tailed off and pulled up before next
Pete The Feat won this in 2013 but has only had five subsequent runs and his jumping has let him down. Union Jack D'ycy is very inconsistent but would have an obvious chance if repeating his Bangor victory where he relished the testing ground. Sun Wild Life, a winner over 2m2f at Taunton in January, should have no problems with this trip judging by a promising reappearance at Exeter where he was staying on. ALTERNATIF has run well in handicaps despite going up 10lb for his victory at Kempton on Boxing Day. He should find this less taxing than Cheltenham last time and can carry his big weight to victory. Handy Andy hasn't won for two years but generally runs well in this sort of company without quite getting there.
Alternatif (FR) 6-1 (11-5) Held up behind, headway on outer before 3 out, soon driven to chase leaders, went 3rd 2 out, ridden and kept on same pace flat, no impression, 3rd of 12, 5 1/4l behind Knock House (11-12) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Pete The Feat (IRE) 20-1 (11-9) Led to 4 out, ridden and weakened from 2 out, 6th of 13, dist behind Golden Chieftain (10-9) at Fontwell 3m 3f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Union Jack D'ycy (FR) 8-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, jumped right throughout, led 4 out, 8 lengths clear 2 out, stayed on strongly, won at Bangor 3m hcp (3) hvy in Nov beating Bernardelli (11-12) by 7l, 8 ran.
Handy Andy (IRE) 13-2 (11-0) Tracked leaders, 2nd before 3 out, hit 3 out and driven, no impression when not fluent next, one pace, 2nd of 8, 5l behind Forgotten Gold (11-2) at Wincanton 3m 3f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Sun Wild Life (FR) 28-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, headway from 13th, stayed on same pace from 3 out, no extra flat, 4th of 13, 11l behind Saroque (11-6) at Exeter 3m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Ziga Boy (FR) 13-2 (11-6) Held up, closed after 3rd, not much room before 4 out, weakened 3 out, pulled up before last, at Exeter 3m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Coolking 12-1 (11-5) Led until 2 out, soon weakened, 7th of 10, 19 1/2l behind Cyrien Star (10-13) at Stratford 2m 7f hcp (4) gs in Oct.
