tracked leaders, chasing winner and one length down when fell 3 out
in touch, headway 7th, chased winner 3 out, ridden and every chance next, stayed on one pace
made most, slow at times, ridden and jumped right last, stayed on gamely
tracked winner until slow at 11th, pulled up 4 out
pushed along in rear, ridden 3 out, never on terms
in touch, pushed along to go 3rd 3 out, ridden next, weakened flat
towards rear, headway 10th, ridden 3 out, went 3rd flat
close up, mistake 8th and lost place, pulled up 5 out
close up, lost place 3rd, pulled up 8th
Manintheshadows was pulled up in his only previous start over fences but has won three of his last four over hurdles. Dan's Chosen has won a chase but that was against only two rivals and he’s looked in the handicapper’s grip since. SMOKING PIGEON is probably jumping fences late in life but he was prominent for a long way over 2m4f here on Boxing Day and has won between the flags.
Manintheshadows (IRE) 5-1 (12-1) Chased leader, led and wandered into 3rd, went mostly clear from 5th, reduced lead 4 out, pushed along turning in, strongly pressed and hit last, kept on well to assert final 100 yards, won at Hereford 3m 2f hcp (5) gd in Oct beating Pottlerath (11-9) by 1l, 10 ran.
Dan's Chosen (IRE) 5-6fav (12-0) Chased leaders, headway before 4 out, drive along next, ran on one pace, not match leaders., 3rd of 10, 11 1/4l behind Airtothethrone (11-11) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp (5) gd in Dec.
Smoking Pigeon 7-2 (11-7) Led until 4th, led after 7th, headed 10th, ridden 3 out, held 2 out, went 3rd before last, kept on, no impression on winner, 3rd of 8, 12 1/4l behind William Cody (11-4) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Jigginstown King (IRE) 80-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, went 2nd 4th, weakened after 3 out, 6th of 13, 20 1/2l behind Supreme Gift (11-7) at Huntingdon 2m 4f (4) gs in Dec.
T'Araison (FR) 7-4fav (10-11) Never going that well, tracked leaders, reminders after 7th, ridden and outpaced home turn, no chance after, 4th of 6, 30 1/2l behind Bobalot (11-12) at Chepstow 3m hcp (5) gs in Oct.
Alright Chief (IRE) 25-1 (11-11) Held up in rear, closed from 10th, went 2nd before 12th, led next, headed before 3 out, weakened before 2 out, 3rd of 7, dist behind Moroval (10-4) at Southwell 3m hcp (5) sft in Nov.
Leskinfere (IRE) 66-1 (10-2) Mid-division, pushed along and lost position 10th, struggling 5 out and pulled up, at Uttoxeter 3m hcp (5) hvy in Dec.
Chain Smoker 66-1 (10-2) Slowly away, soon racing in close 4th, 3rd at 6th, hit 9th, led after 12th, hit 13th and 3 out (normal 4 out) headed 2 out (normal 3 out), soon no chance with winner, weakened into 3rd run-in, 3rd of 6, 17 1/2l behind Jessie Lightfoot (11-4) at Southwell 3m 2f hcp (5) gd in Dec.
Godiva's Bay (IRE) 200-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, not fluent 4th, lost place before not fluent 4 out, soon behind, tailed off, last of 5, dist behind Fountains Chief (12-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 7f (4) gd in Jun.
