held up towards rear on inside, closed 3rd, lost place after next, pushed along after 6th, outpaced in 5th after 3 out, weakened before next
tracked leaders on inside, challenged after 4th, lost place before 3 out, well behind when pulled up before 2 out
raced keenly, held up behind leaders, closed 3 out, ridden before 2 out, no extra in 3rd last
prominent on outside, not fluent, pecked slightly and lost place 4th, pushed along after 6th, effort 4 out, weakened before 2 out, left 4th last
led until 5th, weakened after 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
prominent, led 5th, not fluent 4 out, hard pressed from 2 out, driven flat, holding 2nd towards finish
held up behind leaders, closed 3 out, challenged before 2 out, not fluent last, driven flat, held towards finish
in rear, closed 4 out, weakened 3 out, tailed off
held up in rear on outside, closed when not fluent 4 out, ridden after next, 4th and weakening when fell last
NonRunner
Pilsdon Pen left his earlier form behind when returning the 80/1 winner in soft going at Wincanton. He’s 6lb higher today while After The Fox failed to cope with a 7lb rise last time having won at Chepstow earlier with C’EST QUELQU’UN (NAP) back in third. The latter has subsequently missed out by only a head over these hurdles when fitted with blinkers for the first time and Sean Curran’s charge gets another chance. The frustrating Cheng Gong is usually in the mix without winning while Kenny George has struggled in both outings since finishing runner-up in last year’s renewal.
Cheng Gong 3-1 (10-12) Reluctant leader, set steady pace, in creased pace from 3 out, ridden and headed next, chased winner kept on one pace, 2nd of 5, 2 3/4l behind Bold Plan (11-12) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (4) gs in Feb.
Gastara 10-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, not fluent 5th, nudged along and some headway final bend, no impression 3 out, 11th of 16, dist behind Trump Lady (10-11) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (4) gs in Jan.
Spike Jones 7-2 (11-8) Chased leaders, 3rd and one pace from 2 out, 3rd of 8, 17 1/2l behind Mahler Mission (11-8) at Sedgefield 2m 4f mdn (4) gs in Jan.
After The Fox 10-1 (11-11) Prominent, led 6th, mistake 7th, headed before next, hampered 3 out, beaten next, stayed on same pace, 5th of 15, 10 3/4l behind Coronado Joe (11-2) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp (5) gs in Feb.
Kenny George 25-1 (11-12) Chased leader until after 3rd, chased leaders, pushed along before 3 out, weakened quickly before next, 8th of 10, 30 1/4l behind After The Fox (11-4) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (5) sft in Jan.
C'Est Quelqu'un (FR) 5-1 (11-4) Prominent, not fluent 3rd, led 3 out, ridden 2 lengths clear after 2 out, wandered into last, headed flat, rallied towards finish, just held, 2nd of 10, hd behind That Ole Chestnut (10-2) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp (5) gs in Feb.
Pilsdon Pen 80-1 (10-8) Chased leaders, pushed along to challenge before 2 out, ridden to lead approaching last, kept on gamely flat, won at Wincanton 1m 7f hcp (5) sft in Jan beating Planned Paradise (11-11) by nk, 14 ran.
Sirop De Menthe (FR) 20-1 (10-4) Always behind, never a factor, tailed off, last of 6, 21 3/4l behind Howdyalikemenow (11-12) at Ffos Las 2m hcp (3) hvy in Jan.
Cronk Y Knox (IRE) 10-1 (10-13) Held up, ridden and outpaced before 3 out, made no impression, 14th of 15, dist behind Hipop Des Ongrais (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (5) gd in Jan.
Iron In The Soul 125-1 (10-3) Reluctant to line up, in rear, ridden home turn, weakened 2 out, 11th of 15, dist behind Flying Nun (11-1) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp (5) gs in Jan.
