chased winner until 10th, chased leading pair until 14th, weakened under pressure before 4 out, left poor 4th 3 out, tailed off
made all, hit 6th, blundered 12th, clear next, hit 15th, reduced lead and driven approaching last, stayed on strongly flat
raced wide, chased leading pair, went 2nd 10th, remider after next, lost 2nd before hit 4 out, weakened before next, poor 4th when went left 3 out and pulled up
held up in last pair, good headway to chase leading pair 14th, went 2nd before 4 out, closed approaching and hit last, no impression flat
in touch, lost place 11th, fell next
chased leaders, weakened 12th, pulled up before 15th
held up in rear, hit 9th and ridden, mistake 15th, went 4th and blundered 4 out, went modest 3rd before 3 out, never any chance with leading duo
Pacha D'Oudairies generally jumps well but blundered his way around Plumpton before unseating his rider and may need a confidence booster. Backfromthecongo won a C&D handicap in January from an 8lb higher mark and though out of form has to come into the reckoning with his lowly weight but Royale Knight could just find the combination of a rising handicap mark and testing conditions beyond him. DOUBLETOILINTROUBLE has been gradually making progress and always looked like winning over the C&D last time. A 5lb rise looks manageable and he's taken to complete the double.
Pacha D'Oudairies (FR) 9-4 (11-9) Tracked leaders in 3rd, in rear in 4th when blundered 9th, mistake 10th, mistake and unseated rider 13th, in a race won by Dushy Valley (9-11) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp 0-100 (5) gs in Nov, 4 ran.
Ukrainian Star (IRE) 50-1 (10-0) Chased leaders, not always fluent, lost place 8th, behind before 11th, soon pulled up, in a race won by Richard's Sundance (11-5) at Exeter 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Nov, 10 ran.
Royale Knight 2-7fav (11-6) Held up in touch in 4th, went 3rd from 7th, mistake 12th, went 2nd from 4 out, one pace from 2 out, 3rd of 5, 16l behind Well Refreshed (11-9) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp chs 0-100 (5) gs in Nov.
Doubletoilntrouble (IRE) 13-8fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 14th, led 2 out, ridden out, won at Hereford 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-100 (5) sft beating Landenstown Star (11-9) by 5l, 7 ran.
Derwen Pryde 8-1 (10-13) Mid-division, headway after 5th, went 2nd briefly after 13th, weakened approaching 2 out, 3rd of 7, 17l behind The Rockies (11-4) at Ludlow 3m nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Nov.
Backfromthecongo (IRE) 12-1 (11-8) Mid-division, mistake 5th, reminders before 16th, soon weakened, pulled up before 5 out, in a race won by Desperate Dex (11-7) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp 0-100 (5) gs in Oct, 9 ran.
Loughalder (IRE) 3-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, mistake 10th, headway when mistake next, hit 13th, badly hampered next, went 3rd 4 out, weakened after 3 out, lost remote 3rd close home, 4th of 7, 43l behind Doubletoilntrouble (11-12) at Hereford 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-100 (5) sft.
Colin's Desire 33-1 (10-9) Prominent, pecked 2nd, lost place approaching 12th, behind next, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Pete The Feat (11-12) at Folkestone 3m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Nov, 13 ran.
