held up towards rear, weakened after 4 out
held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, led narrowly last, hard ridden and under pressure flat, all out, just held on
held up mid-division, pushed along before 7th, never dangerous
led, hit 2nd and headed briefly, headed approaching 3 out, led briefly after, close up 2 out and not fluent , ridden and weakened before last
chased leaders, not fluent 5th, pushed along and hit 7th, lost place 8th
held up mid-division on inner, headway 8th, led approaching and blundered 3 out, headed briefly, led narrowly next, headed narrowly and blundered last, rallied and every chance flat, kept on, just held close up
chased leaders, went 2nd approaching 8th, weakened before 2 out
held up mid-division, lost place and towards rear before 5th, weakened before 8th
held up behind, headway to chase leaders 7th, ridden after 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up before next
held up mid-division, ridden before and hit 7th, weakened 4 out
held up in rear, headway approaching 8th, pushed along before 3 out, weakened before 2 out
chased leaders, pushed along before 4 out, ridden before 3 out, no impression
chased leader, led briefly 2nd, hit next, in 7th and outpaced before 3 out, plugged on, no impression
This is likely to prove a real test of stamina and that will suit ACCORDING TO PETE, who was well backed when second over 3m6f in a chase at Catterick on his latest start. He hasn't won over hurdles since 2008 but is well treated nowadays and is fancied to rectify that statistic today. Palypso De Creek benefited from a switch to the smaller obstacles by scoring at Wetherby earlier in the month but is 5lb higher here, while Sir Kezbaah doesn't give the impression that he'll stay this far. No Principles does, however, and is lightly-raced in comparison to most while Lackamon is chasing a hat-trick after wide-margin wins last month at Wetherby and Southwell, though the handicapper appears to have reacted with severity. Stopped Out may be best of the rest but this is his first try at the higher level.
Merrydown (IRE) 11-2fav (10-1) Mistake 1st, mid-division, weakened before 3 out, pulled up soon after, in a race won by Beshabar (9-11) at Sandown 2m 6f hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft in Feb '10, 13 ran.
Skippers Brig (IRE) 10-1 (11-4) Mid-division, 10th halfway, no extra from before 4 out, 14th of 28, 36l behind Majestic Concorde (11-9) at Leopardstown 3m hcp chs 0-145 hvy in Dec.
Palypso De Creek (FR) 7-2 (11-10) Tracked leaders and keen, jumped slow and dropped rear 5 out, soon driven along, headway to chase leader before 3 out, led before last, held on well, driven out, won at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs beating Chester Lad (11-2) by 1 1/4l, 5 ran.
Khachaturian (IRE) 5-1 (10-7) Chased leaders on outside, mistake 6th, lost place 15th, fell 17th, in a race won by Eric's Charm (10-11) at Sandown 3m hcp chs (2) gd, 11 ran.
Lackamon 2-1fav (11-12) Tracked leader, led before 2 out, soon drew clear, very easily, won at Southwell 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Jan beating Tora Bora (10-8) by 12l, 10 ran.
According To Pete 9-2fav (11-7) Chased leaders on inner, took keen hold, ridden before 3 out, led last, kept on, headed near finish, 2nd of 14, 1/2l behind General Hardi (10-11) at Catterick 3m 6f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Jan.
Lightning Strike (GER) 28-1 (11-4) Prominent, led 5th until next, mistake 10th, jumped right from next, weakened approaching 4 out, tailed off when pulled up flat, in a race won by Cooldine (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m nov chs G1 (1) gs in Mar '09, 15 ran.
The Shy Man (IRE) 5-1 (9-13) In touch, lost place 4th, headway 7th, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened, 8th of 14, 43l behind Mobaasher (11-7) at Warwick 3m 1f hcp hdl (2) hvy in Jan.
No Principles 22-1 (11-9) Held up towards rear, headway from 3 out, went 3rd approaching 2 out, led after last, driven out, kept on well, won at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Nov beating Full Of Joy (11-3) by 5l, 11 ran.
Sir Kezbaah (IRE) 11-4fav (11-5) Chased leaders, ridden to challenge approaching 2 out, stayed on under pressure, 3rd of 14, 2 1/4l behind Numide (11-2) at Ffos Las 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Jan.
Stopped Out 7-1 (11-9) Tracked clear leader, led approaching 3 out, ridden and headed after 2 out, no extra after last, 3rd of 13, 10l behind Diklers Oscar (10-13) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Jan.
Saphire Night 33-1 (11-2) Prominent, outpaced after 3 out, went 3rd and hanging left 2 out, stayed on flat, 3rd of 14, 5l behind Thelobstercatcher (11-8) at Warwick 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Jan.
Political Paddy 40-1 (10-0) Held up mid-division, headway to chase leaders before 3 out, went 3rd before last, no impression, 3rd of 9, 24l behind Knockara Beau (11-12) at Carlisle 3m 1f hcp hdl (2) hvy.
