always behind
with leader, hit and lost place 11th, behind when hampered 15th, pulled up before next
tracked leaders, led 11th, ridden last, kept on until headed, no extra final 75 yards
chased leaders, lost place 3 out, weakened next
held up, headway 12th, ridden and outpaced 3 out, 5th and beaten when blundered next
behind when fell 15th
refused to race
tracked leaders, hit 8th, 4th and outpaced when blundered 2 out, soon no extra
mid-division, outpaced 3 out, weakened next
mid-division, hit 7th, outpaced 3 out, weakened next
led to 11th, lost place 3 out, soon weakened
mid-division, headway and in touch 12th, chased leader 3 out, soon ridden, lost second when bumped last, no extra flat
held up, headway on inside after 3 out, went second when mistake last, soon ridden, stayed on to lead final 75 yards
SIR WINSTON looks capable of making further progress and is preferred to Celian and Absolute Shambles. Victor Dartnall has made a good start to the year and there should be more to come from Sir Winston who looks an improved performer this term. The horse that beat him at Hereford has won again since to give that form a boost whilst the first two home had pulled a long way clear of the third. Sir Winston is 2lbs higher and doesn't have his amateur rider's claim to fall back on either but he may still be up to the task. Absolute Shambles is from another yard in a rich vein of form and is just 4lbs higher than when scoring over course and distance last month. The second disappointed last time but had gone close in a better race on his subsequent start whilst the fourth home won next time out which all goes to suggest that Absolute Shambles may have been leniently treated. Celian has an 8lb higher mark to contend with following an impressive victory at the track last time and also has to prove himself over this longer trip. He was well backed when winning that day though and is relatively unexposed so can't be confidently dismissed. South Bank has claims on the pick of his form whilst Power Shared and Strath Gallant are runners to note on their chase debuts, particularly if the market vibes are positive, but preference is for Sir Winston.
Strath Gallant 10-1 (10-9) Led, mistake 3rd, soon headed, remained prominent, weakened after 7th, mistake 3 out, last of 11, 43l behind I Hear A Symphony (11-9) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Nov.
Celian (FR) 9-4fav (11-2) Led to 3rd, chased leader, led after 2 out kept on well, won at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (4) sft beating Prince Louis (10-10) by 5l, 7 ran.
Thai Vango (IRE) 10-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, took closer order 5th, weakened after last, 5th of 14, 11l behind Absolute Shambles (10-7) at Huntingdon 3m nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Dec.
South Bank (IRE) 20-1 (11-9) Mid-division until weakened 8th, struggling when blundered next, tailed off when pulled up after 3 out, in a race won by Ultimate Limit (11-9) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Dec, 13 ran.
Boomerang (IRE) 9-2fav (11-2) Held up in rear, struggling 14th, tailed off, 7th of 9, well behind Free World (11-12) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in Nov.
Ouragan Lagrange (FR) 20-1 (11-5) Mid-division, ridden 9th, weakened 3 out, last of 10, 38l behind Senor Shane (10-7) at Lingfield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Dec.
Power Shared (IRE) 5-2fav (11-11) In touch, ridden after 6th, beaten 2 out, left 2nd last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 13, 13l behind Prince Geeno (11-9) at Warwick 2m 3f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft in Dec.
Sir Winston (IRE) 9-2 (11-3) Mid-division, headway to chase leader 13th, blundered 4 out, every chance 2 out, kept on until ridden and no extra flat, 2nd of 14, 3l behind Rapid Increase (11-12) at Hereford 3m 1f hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft in Dec.
Phoenix Des Mottes (FR) 125-1 (10-5) Led until after 2nd, remained prominent, soon jumped right, not fluent 10th, soon weakened, 3rd of 4, 37l behind Victorias Groom (11-4) at Fakenham 2m 5f nov stks (3) sft.
Noble Future 8-1 (11-7) Mid-division, pushed along after 3 out, soon weakened, 7th of 11, 24l behind Mix N Match (10-5) at Wincanton 2m nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft in Dec.
Absolute Shambles 12-1 (10-7) Led to 5th, chased leaders, went 2nd 2 out, hard ridden flat, stayed on towards finish, won at Huntingdon 3m nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Dec beating Reblis (11-2) by 1/2l, 14 ran.
Local Present (IRE) 25-1 (11-7) In touch, pushed along after 10th, weakened on long run to 2 out, 5th of 12, 18l behind Ere Alfie (10-10) at Taunton 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft in Dec.
Roseneath (IRE) 12-1 (11-4) Chased leaders to 2 out, soon weakened, 10th of 18, 50l behind King Stanley (11-12) at Hereford 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft in Dec.
