always prominent, led 4th, headed after 9th, every chance from 2 out, no extra flat
always towards rear, mistake 3 out, pulled up next
mid-division, lost place 7th, struggling 9th, soon tailed off
in touch, went 2nd approaching 10th, led 3 out, ridden and strongly challenged next, headed closing stages
behind, never jumped well and jumped right 2 out, never dangerous
tracked leaders, mistake 12th, soon lost place, pulled up 3 out
held up towards rear, not fluent 2nd and 3rd, headway under pressure after 3 out, 5 lengths down in 3rd at last, hard ridden and stayed on strongly to lead towards finish
mid-division, headway 4 out, soon chasing leaders, weakened 2 out
soon led, headed 4th, led again 9th, hit and headed 3 out, weakened next
held up towards rear, moderate late headway, never a factor
Barton Legend may be able to land this contest at the expense of Big Al and Northern Quest with Adare Prince and Tosula also considered. McCoy rides Big Al in preference to Adare Prince and the gelding certainly looked one to keep on the right side of when winning at Leicester in December. A line can be put through his subsequent run at Towcester as he failed to act on the testing ground but there must be some doubt as to whether he will get away with the conditions on offer here. There are similar concerns with regard to Northern Quest who has been raised 18lbs for winning a modest contest at Catterick. He remains at the right end of the weights and is unexposed but preference is for Barton Legend. He may not be as well handicapped as some of his opponents but isn't badly treated. He has gradually come back to form since joining his current connections in the summer and with track, trip and ground to suit is a solid option in an open heat.
Barton Legend 9-2fav (11-2) In touch, lost place 7th, in touch again from 11th, left chasing winner 3 out, hit 2 out, rider dropped whip after last, towards finish no impression, 2nd of 16, 1 1/2l behind Carnt Spell (10-0) at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs in.
Curradoon (IRE) 40-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, lost place 14th, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Air Force One (11-0) at Folkestone 3m 1f beg chs (4) gs, 10 ran.
Exuberance (IRE) 11-1 (11-9) Held up towards rear, headway 6th, weakened 4 out, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Kilrossanty (10-2) at Bangor 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in May, 13 ran.
The Ring (IRE) 11-1 (11-1) Mid-division, headway to track winner 10th, outpaced 2 out, left 3 lengths 2nd last, kept on, 2nd of 10, 2l behind Low Reactor (10-9) at Newcastle 3m hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs in Dec.
Zacharova (IRE) 10-3 (10-5) Held up, mistake 6th, blundered badly 4 out, soon weakened, 5th of 8, 29l behind Marked Man (11-9) at Hereford 2m 3f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Nov.
Orsus (FR) 16-1 (11-3) Mid-division, ridden after 7th, no chance after 4 out, tailed off and pulled up 2 out in race won by Oiseau de Nuit (10-9) at Huntingdon 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Dec, 12 ran.
Adare Prince (IRE) 3-1 (10-12) In touch, chased leaders 3 out, soon weakened, beaten when pulled up 3 out in race won by Elgar (11-12) at Huntingdon 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft, 7 ran.
Northern Quest (IRE) 11-8fav (10-0) Held up mid-division, headway 10th, led 2 out, kept on well, won at Catterick 2m 3f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Dec beating Rash Moment (11-9) by 10l, 12 ran.
Ravenscar 25-1 (11-3) Mid-division, struggling from 10th, tailed off, 14th of 18, well behind Pitful Tercah (10-2) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Dec.
Lescer's Lad 10-3 (11-5) Held up towards rear, headway halfway, soon tracking leaders, ridden 5 out, weakened after 3 out, 6th of 12, 20l behind Alpha Gamble (10-12) at Folkestone 2m 5f amt hcp chs (5) gs.
Big Al (IRE) 13-2 (11-10) Prominent, lost place 6th and pulled up at the 8th in race won by Elsie's Pride (11-3) at Towcester 2m 3f hcp chs 0-100 (4) sft in Dec, 11 ran.
Chilly Milly 9-1 (11-7) Never going, behind up until pulled up 5 out in race won by Carnt Spell (10-0) at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs in Dec, 16 ran.
The Hero Sullivan (IRE) 18-1 (10-13) In touch, outpaced approaching 2 out, no impression approaching last, 4th of 9, 12l behind Emperor's Monarch (10-4) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Dec.
Tosula 8-1 (10-0) Held up towards rear, driven and headway 8th, chased leaders next, led soon after 3 out, ridden out, won at Taunton 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Dec beating So Brash (11-3) by 2 1/2l, 14 ran.
