led until 6th, chased leader until weakened before 3 out, left modest 3rd 3 out
held up off the pace in rear, headway to 4th after 5th, weakened 7th, tailed off
not fluent, chased clear leading pair until 4th, weakened after next, tailing off when pulled up before 7th
held up off the pace in last pair, not fluent 4th, mistake next, not fluent 8th, stayed on to 4th well before 3 out, left 2nd 3 out, 2 lengths down last, closed all the way to the line, just held
held up off strong pace in 4th, chased clear leading pair 4th, closed after next, no impression 4 out, weakened quickly before 3 out where left modest 4th
tended to jump left, pressed leader at strong pace, led 6th, clear when hit 4 out, looked likely winner when went left and fell 3 out
held up off the pace in 5th, blundered 7th, headway approaching 4 out, chasing leaders and went 2nd when left in lead 3 out, went left 2 out, ridden and 2 lengths ahead when mistake last, reduced lead in closing stages, held on, all out
Ultragold has been placed twice over 3m this winter so it's a bit of a surprise to see him dropped in trip for this. He didn't run very well over 2m5f at Wincanton last week and we'll take him on with NOTARFBAD, who was the only one to make a race of it with Brick Red last time having been easy to back. Brick Red's trainer, Venetia Williams, runs Lucky Sunny but he's still struggling to recapture his best form and last year's winner, Nozic, has barely raised a gallop since though is 11lb lower. Ted Dolly may be best of the rest.
Notarfbad (IRE) 5-1 (10-11) Raced keenly, led and soon clear, reduced lead 4 out, joined 2 out, headed and not fluent last, stayed on same pace flat, 2nd of 4, 1l behind Brick Red (11-5) at Wincanton 2m (3) sft in Jan.
Ted Dolly (IRE) 20-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, 4th for much, beaten when pecked last, no extra, last of 5, well behind Shrapnel (11-1) at Galway 2m 1f nov chs (1) hvy in Oct.
Ultragold (FR) 9-4fav (10-7) Took keen hold in touch, headway on inside to chase leaders 9th (water), mistake 4 out, weakened before next, 5th of 9, 19l behind Bennys Mist (11-5) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-140 (3) sft in Jan.
Overclear 25-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, mistake 2nd, ridden 3 out, 5th and one pace from 2 out, 5th of 16, 16l behind King Massini (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f cond hcp chs (4yo+) (3) gd in Dec.
Nozic (FR) 16-1 (10-3) Tracked leaders, outpaced from 7th, 4th and plugging on before 2 out, no impression, 4th of 9, 27l behind Dare Me (11-4) at Warwick 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in Jan.
Lucky Sunny (IRE) 6-1 (11-1) With leader early, tracked leader, led after 4 out, blundered 2 out, soon headed, mistake last, weakened run-in, 3rd of 6, 10l behind Cloudy Joker (11-9) at Catterick 2m hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Jan.
Paddy The Stout (IRE) 12-1 (10-5) Held up towards rear, headway before 3 out to go 3rd, weakened before next, 4th of 8, 26l behind Bennys Mist (11-9) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy in Jan.
