held up in touch, tracked leaders 12th, outpaced 3 out, weakened next, tailed off
in touch on inside, lost place 11th, soon behind, lost touch 13th, tailed off next, soon pulled up
led to after 1st, tracked winner, led again 11th to 13th, in touch, ridden 3 out, weakened next, tailed off when pulled up before last
tracked leaders, hit and lost place 12th, chased leaders again 5 out, ridden 2 out, kept on same pace, no impression in 4th when went right last
led after 1st, blundered 10th, headed next, regained lead 13th, headed briefly next, ridden before last, stayed on gamely flat
held up in touch, chased leaders 5 out, ridden after 3 out, 3rd when not fluent next, soon one pace, no impression with front pair before last
tracked leaders on outside, ridden and lost place after 14th, tailed off from 4 out
tracked leaders, led briefly 14th, chased winner after, ridden before 2 out, kept on same pace under pressure approaching last, held flat
Harry The Viking is thrown in on his best form but hasn't won for more than three years. Aintree winner Poole Master looks vulnerable off a 6lb higher mark over another half-mile but Cape Tribulation went close to winning a second Rowland Meyrick at Wetherby on Boxing Day and has to go on the short-list. LIE FORRIT won one of these at Aintree in the autumn and stayed on well behind Hey Big Spender in the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle in November. A winner at the track in March last year, Lucinda Russell's charge should take all the beating as Mr Moonshine, Summery Justice and Mister Marker have a bit to prove at present, though Lackamon should be thereabouts with a clear round.
Poole Master 25-1 (10-12) Led 2nd, made most after, driven before last, ridden approaching elbow, stayed on well, won at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs (2) gs in Dec beating Cedre Bleu (10-5) by 1 3/4l, 16 ran.
Cape Tribulation 9-1 (11-7) In touch, stayed on from 3 out, 2nd of 11, 2 1/2l behind Dolatulo (11-4) at Wetherby 3m 1f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gs in Dec.
Mr Moonshine (IRE) 25-1 (11-6) Mid-division, weakened 16th (valentines), behind when pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Oscar Time (10-12) at Aintree 3m 2f hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Dec, 25 ran.
Lackamon 15-2 (11-7) Tracked leader, ridden before 4 out, in 2nd when mistake and unseated rider 3 out, in a race won by Neptune Equester (10-4) at Kelso 4m hcp chs 0-140 (3) sft in Dec, 10 ran.
Lie Forrit (IRE) 8-1 (10-13) Led narrowly to 9th, in touch, outpaced 14th, went modest 3rd after 3 out, stayed on to take 2nd near finish, no chance with winner, 2nd of 9, 7l behind Hey Big Spender (11-12) at Newcastle 3m listed hcp chs (1) sft in Nov.
Summery Justice (IRE) 16-1 (10-10) Towards rear, mistake 3rd, struggling 10th, tailed off 17th, pulled up after, in a race won by Emperor's Choice (10-8) at Chepstow 3m 5f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) hvy in Dec, 19 ran.
Mister Marker (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, jumped slowly throughout, weakened 9th, soon tailed off, left in remote 3rd at 3 out, 3rd of 5, well behind Sixty Something (11-12) at Doncaster 3m 2f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Dec.
Harry The Viking 8-1 (10-2) Tracked leaders, pushed along before 10th, weakened run-in, 6th of 10, 10l behind Diocles (10-8) at Kelso 2m 7f hcp chs (2) sft in Dec.
