in rear, pushed along 6th, behind when blundered badly and unseated rider 5 out
mid-division, headway before 5 out, went 2nd before 4 out, in 3rd and one pace 3 out, weakened and lost 3rd before 2 out, left 3rd last, lost 2 places run-in
towards rear, plugged on from 3 out, never dangerous
tracked leaders in 4th, led 10th, headed before 13th, weakened before 4 out, soon pulled up
always towards rear, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
towards rear, pushed along before 13th, soon behind, pulled up before 16th
behind, ridden 4 out, plugged on from next
close up, fell 8th
mid-division, headway before 13th, ridden and weakened before 4 out, pulled up before 3 out
in touch, led 14th, headed 4 out, regained lead 3 out, clear before last, eased last 75 yards
mid-division, headway before 4 out, went 3rd before 2 out, well held when left 2nd last, no chance with winner
towards rear, reminders 4th, pushed along before 13th, plugged on from 3 out, went 3rd run-in, never dangerous
led to 10th, led again 13th, headed 14th, regained lead 4 out, headed 3 out, well held in 2nd when blundered and unseated rider last
The Welsh Grand National is proving a good pointer for this contest and HAWKES POINT finished runner-up in the Chepstow marathon in December. He beat current Grand National favourite and stablemate Tidal Bay with Merry King further behind and Well Refreshed pulled up. The latter won last year's renewal off a much lower mark but this can go to Paul Nicholls' chaser. Wychwoods Brook won the Peter Marsh Chase over these fences last month with Merry King not beaten far and another bold bid looks likely, while Across The Bay just got the better of Wellforth over 3m4f here in December and that pair are closely matched. Our Father is held in high regard but disappointed when sent off favourite for the Hennessy at Newbury on his comeback. Much better is expected from him and the inconsistent Nuts N Bolts, who beat Red Rocco over track and trip back in November but was pulled up last time. Loch Ba ran well here in December under today's jockey and has an each-way shout as he has the beating of Emperor's Choice, who scored at Ffos Las a fortnight ago, on Warwick form though the latter is still preferred to stablemate Rigadin De Beauchene, beaten 10 lengths when runner-up in this last year.
Across The Bay (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, headway approaching 2 out (normal 4 out, closing in 3rd after last (normal 2 out), stayed on well to lead last strides, won at Haydock 3m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (2) hvy in Dec beating Wellforth (10-10) by 1/2l, 10 ran.
Our Father (IRE) 11-2fav (11-1) Held up towards rear, pushed along in mid-division before 4 out, plugged on under pressure flat but never going pace to get involved, 7th of 21, 20l behind Triolo D'Alene (11-1) at Newbury 3m 2f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gd in Nov.
Hawkes Point 14-1 (10-0) Prominent, challenged 4 out, led 3 out, edged left before next, soon headed, 1 length down towards finish, stayed on close home, 2nd of 20, hd behind Mountainous (10-0) at Chepstow 3m 5f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) hvy in Dec.
Wychwoods Brook 16-1 (9-11) Chased leaders in 3rd, mistake 8th when in 2nd, lost 2nd before 9th, regained 2nd 4 out, mistake next, headed before and mistake 2 out, hit last, kept on gamely to lead last 100 yards, held on grimly, won at Haydock 3m 1f hcp chs G2 (1) hvy in Jan beating Vintage Star (10-8) by 1 1/2l, 10 ran.
Well Refreshed 10-1 (10-1) Held up in rear, mistakes 2nd, 8th and 9th, hit 10th, mistake 13th, soon behind, pulled up before 6 out, in a race won by Mountainous (10-0) at Chepstow 3m 5f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) hvy in Dec, 20 ran.
Merry King (IRE) 9-2 (10-4) With leader, lost 2nd at 8th, regained 2nd before 9th, ridden before 4 out, rallied before last, kept on to take 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 10, 1 3/4l behind Wychwoods Brook (9-11) at Haydock 3m 1f hcp chs G2 (1) hvy in Jan.
Soll 11-2 (11-7) Tracked leaders, not fluent 8th, pushed along 16th, hit 4 out, beaten after, plugged on, 4th of 10, 17l behind Relax (11-1) at Sandown 3m hcp chs (2) hvy.
Nuts N Bolts 4-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, ridden 10th, tailed off and pulled up next, in a race won by Cloudy Too (11-0) at Wetherby 3m 1f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) sft in Dec, 8 ran.
Wellforth (IRE) 12-1 (11-4) With leader, led 4th headed before 3 out, ridden and weakened from last, 4th of 9, 14l behind Sun Cloud (11-0) at Catterick 3m 6f hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in Jan.
Le Reve (IRE) 4-1 (11-2) Led 2nd, often jumped left from 6th, headed next, headed 13th, led after 14th, headed 4 out, one pace from 2 out, 4th of 6, 5l behind Edmund Kean (11-2) at Leicester 2m 7f (3) sft in Jan.
Rigadin De Beauchene (FR) 25-1 (10-8) Chased leaders, weakened after 14th, pulled up before 16th, in a race won by Godsmejudge (11-3) at Ayr 4m hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Apr, 24 ran.
Emperor's Choice (IRE) 9-2fav (10-5) Held up mid-division, pushed along and headway before 11th, went 2nd before 3 out, led before last, clear run-in, won at Ffos Las 3m 4f hcp chs (2) hvy beating Firebird Flyer (10-0) by 8l, 12 ran.
Loch Ba (IRE) 8-1 (10-8) In touch, lost place 6th, blundered badly 14th, closed before 16th, 7th 5 out, stayed on flat, 4th of 15, 15l behind Shotgun Paddy (11-7) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) sft in Jan.
Red Rocco (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) Led, headed before 6th lost place after 14th, pulled up, in a race won by Flying Award (10-13) at Wincanton 3m 3f hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy in Jan, 9 ran.
