with leaders, lost place 11th, outpaced when hit 4 out, soon heavily eased and pulled up
behind, struggling 11th, lost touch when pulled up before 14th
chased leaders, outpaced 3 out, no impression from next
led narrowly to 5th, with winner, outpaced after 4 out, ridden and lost place after next, stayed on to chase front pair before last, no impression
with leaders on outside, blundered 5th, soon lost place and behind, struggling 11th, lost touch when pulled up before 14th
tracked leaders, effort 3 out, one pace in 3rd next, weakened approaching last
in touch when blundered and unseated rider 1st
blundered and lost prominent position 1st, soon behind, reminder after 11th, chased leaders 13th, outpaced 4 out, went 2nd after next, ridden 2 out, kept on same pace, held flat
with leaders, led 5th, made rest, driven before 3 out, kept on well from next, ridden out flat
Open Hearted didn't jump very well when only third over course and distance last month but still finished four lengths ahead of Howard's Legacy, who is only a pound better off. A better round of jumping should see The Queen's gelding in the mix while McCoy is back on board Cantlow for the first time since the top weight won off a higher mark at Newbury more than two years ago. The latter's trainer, Paul Webber, also runs the in-form Firm Order but Baby Shine probably has too much weight and American Spin is hard to predict. Salmanazar is unexposed but fell at the first on his second start over fences. UMBERTO D'OLIVATE should stay 3m around here and was in good form around this time last year. He was more like his old self at Lingfield last time and can go one better today.
Cantlow (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Not fluent, chased leading pair, went 2nd 9th until next, weakened 10th, dropped to last trio next, struggling when mistake 13th, tailed off and eased before 3 out, 6th of 8, well behind Ballinvarrig (10-9) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft in Dec.
Open Hearted 7-2fav (11-11) Not fluent, held up, mistakes 1st and next, headway approaching 8th, not fluent and lost place 11th, headway again 13th, chased leaders 4 out, every chance when pushed left and bumped 3 out, ridden in 3rd before next, weakened before last, 3rd of 9, 17l behind Ardkilly Witness (11-4) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft in Jan.
Baby Shine (IRE) 6-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, one pace from 3 out, lost 3rd place before last, 4th of 6, 10l behind Highland Retreat (10-12) at Doncaster 2m 4f Listed ch (1) gd in Jan.
Umberto D'olivate (FR) 3-1fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, lost place approaching 3rd, pushed along 6th, soon outpaced, rallied to chase winner 4 out, ridden to challenge after next, kept on under pressure, 2nd of 7, 4l behind Simply Wings (11-5) at Lingfield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in Dec.
American Spin 66-1 (11-0) Raced wide, took keen hold in last pair, last from 3rd, tailed off 4 out, last of 6, well behind Medinas (11-0) at Newbury 3m hdl G2 (1) sft in Nov.
Firm Order (IRE) 10-1 (11-1) In rear and pushed along, headway 8 out, led 4 out, soon pressed, headed before last, kept on and no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 6l behind Firebird Flyer (11-2) at Ludlow 3m Am hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Jan.
Salmanazar 9-2 (11-6) Fell 1st, in a race won by Perfect Candidate (11-0) at Leicester 2m 7f nov ltd hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Jan, 7 ran.
Howard's Legacy (IRE) 11-1 (11-3) Held up and behind, pushed along before 14th, headway into 5th before 3 out, mistake 3 out, plugged on into modest 4th before next, 4th of 9, 21l behind Ardkilly Witness (11-4) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft in Jan.
Ballyheigue Bay (IRE) 10-1 (11-6) Sometimes jumped right, chased winner, hit 2nd, pushed along after 11th, lost 2nd bypassing omitted 13th, dropped to 4th 3 out, plugged on from 2 out, went modest 3rd again run-in, 3rd of 11, 22l behind Azure Fly (11-0) at Newbury 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Dec.
