always behind, tailed off
held up in touch in mid-division, headway after 4th, led before 3 out, ridden and headed after 2 out, stayed on same pace
mid-division, headway 3 out, switched left and ridden when not fluent 2 out, soon led, held on close home
held up in rear, well beaten 3 out, tailed off
led, carried left 2nd, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, soon beaten
tracked leaders, ridden and beaten 3 out
mid-division, not fluent and headway 3rd, led approaching 4th until before 3 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, close 3rd 2 out, soon beaten, one pace
held up towards rear, took keen hold, headway 3 out, went 2nd approaching last, switched left after hurdle, kept on well towards finish
with leader, jumped left 2nd, headed approaching 4th, no extra when not fluent last, weakened flat
held up towards rear, pushed along before 3 out, headway and 7th approaching 2 out, never on terms
mid-division, jumped slowly and lost place 4th, slow again and well beaten 3 out
Nicky Henderson won this a year ago with Cucumber Run and can repeat the process with HEATHER ROYAL. A winning bumper and novice hurdle winner, she was in touch when unshipping Andrew Tinkler at Lingfield in November before a very good effort in a Grade 2 at Ascot last month won by her stablemate Molotof. Strongly Suggested, a debut winner in a Worcester bumper on good ground, hasn't done as well as expected over timber so far but is the type to improve as is Seedsman, who made a winning racecourse debut in an Aintree bumper in May and probably needed the run on his reappearance in November. Go Set Go has run well enough in bumpers but faces a stiff task on his hurdling bow.
Craignure (IRE) 50-1 (10-12) Keen, soon with leader, hit 3rd, lost place after 4th, pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Darlan (10-12) at Kempton 2m NH nov hdl 4-6yo (4) gd in Nov, 7 ran.
Go Set Go 8-1 (10-13) Held up towards rear, headway halfway,led over 2f out, ridden and headed inside final furlong, kept on, 2nd of 15, 1l behind Viking Ridge (10-11) at Huntingdon 2m cond NH flat (6) gs in Dec.
Heather Royal 14-1 (10-11) Held up in rear, steady headway to chase leading quartett after 5th, ridden and one pace when left modest 4th 2 out, no impression when edged right flat, 4th of 7, 7l behind Molotof (11-7) at Ascot 2m nov hdl G2 (1) sft in Dec.
High Road (IRE) 8-1 (10-9) In rear, headway 5f out, ridden 3f out, weakened 2f out, 7th of 8, 30l behind Hazy Tom (10-11) at Bangor 2m 1f Conditional Nat Hunt Flat Race (4-6yo) (5) gd in Apr.
Merry King (IRE) 66-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened before next, tailed off, 6th of 11, well behind Colour Squadron (11-0) at Newbury 2m mdn hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Milansbar (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) Mid-division, weakened approaching 3 out, 11th of 16, 43l behind Poole Master (10-9) at Uttoxeter 2m NH mdn hdl (5) gs in Nov.
Reste Jeune (FR) 100-1 (10-12) Behind, hit 6th, soon outpaced, weakened before 2 out, tailed off, last of 12, well behind Tetlami (10-9) at Sandown 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Dec.
Seedsman 20-1 (11-7) Close up in 5th, hung left from over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, lost modest 3rd closing stages, 4th of 8, 16l behind Barenger (11-0) at Newbury 2m NH flat (6) gs in Nov.
Strongly Suggested 10-3 (10-12) Took keen hold, held up in close 5th, headway to get in behind leaders approaching 3 out, edged left and weakened tamely 2 out, beaten when went left last, 5th of 13, 24l behind Swincombe Flame (10-5) at Exeter 2m 1f NH nov hdl 4-6yo (4) sft in Dec.
Taigan (FR) 66-1 (10-12) Mid-division, driven and outpaced before 2 out, soon weakened, 7th of 12, 30l behind Tetlami (10-9) at Sandown 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Dec.
Madame Allsorts 66-1 (11-4) Behind, ridden and struggling on inside 3f out, plugged on past weakening rivals final furlong, never in contention, 10th of 20, 21l behind Swincombe Flame (11-4) at Sandown 2m mrs N H flat lst (1) gd in Mar.
Who's Afraid 16-1 (10-10) Mid-division, struggling after 7th, tailed off, 11th of 16, well behind Dream Function (11-2) at Exeter 2m 3f mrs nov hdl (4) sft in Nov.
