chased leaders, dropped to mid-division when hit 4th, last and struggling before 6th, tailed off when went badly left next, pulled up before 3 out
chased leaders, pushed along after 3 out, plugging on in well held 5th when left moderate 2nd at the last
chased leader who went clear after 6th, closer before 3 out, chased new leader on long run before 2 out, soon every chance until pushed along and lost 2nd before 2 out, plugging on disputing well held 4th when badly hampered after the last
mid-division on outside, mistake 5th, weakened after 3 out,
led and went clear after 6th, reduced lead before 3 out, headed and weakened rapidly on long run before next
held up in last pair, still plenty to do when taken to wide outside before 2 out, closed to track leaders 2 out, over 2 lengths 3rd and staying on when left in clear lead at the last
mid-division on inside, pushed along chasing leaders on long run before 2 out, ridden and weakening when hit 2 out, left in modest 4th at the last, went 3rd run-in
held up towards rear, closer in mid-division 4th, headway chasing leaders 3 out, going well in 2nd before next, over 2 lengths down looking held when fell last
towards rear, pushed along and struggling after 3 out, never on terms
always towards rear, never on terms
last pair, tailed off 3 out, never a factor
mid-division, weakened soon after 3 out
chased leaders on outside, closer before 3 out, led on long run before next, ridden clear between last 2, just over 2 lengths ahead and looked likely winner when mistake and unseated rider last
NonRunner
Notre Pari won very nicely upped in trip when making his handicap debut at Aintree. He has the scope to cope with an 8lb rise and Barry Geraghty has ridden the winner of this twice in the last seven years. LARKBARROW LAD has also been raised 8lb since scoring at Worcester in October, where he was always travelling best. This race often goes to an embryo chaser and Philip Hobbs’ gelding certainly has the size to do well over fences. He’s been waiting for better ground after wind surgery and shouldn’t be far away. Burrows Edge placed twice here in handicaps last year and is quickly back over hurdles after just one run over fences. His yard won this with a similar type in 2018 but this is a more competitive race than the one won by Burrows Park at Hereford and another recent winner on that track, Northofthewall, has already been beaten off lower marks in handicaps. Echiquier has plenty to prove after a lacklustre run at Southwell.
Canyon City 25-1 (12-4) Mid-division, hit 4 out, outpaced before next, no danger after, 6th of 16, 23 1/2l behind Honest Vic (11-9) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Vive Le Roi (IRE) 25-1 (11-11) Chased winner, pushed along and every chance 2 out, kept on same pace run-in, lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 18, 1l behind Champers On Ice (11-12) at Newbury 3m hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Burrows Park (FR) 9-4 (11-7) Made all, hit 2 out, soon given reminder, ridden and ran on well flat, won at Hereford 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Dec beating Ballyellis (11-0) by 1 1/4l, 5 ran.
Larkbarrow Lad 9-2fav (11-7) Led into start, held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, challenged from 2 out, stayed on, driven flat, led towards finish, won at Worcester 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Oct beating The Vollan (11-12) by 1l, 13 ran.
Eragon De Chanay (FR) 33-1 (11-12) Mid-division, headway chasing leaders 4 out, ridden before next, weakened soon after 3 out, 8th of 16, dist behind Honest Vic (11-9) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Burrows Edge (FR) 6-4fav (11-0) Chased leaders, went 2nd 4th, led 9th, soon headed, led again 10th, headed when fell 4 out, at Ludlow 2m 4f (3) sft in Dec.
Echiquier (FR) 15-8 (11-4) Led, not fluent 6th when inconvenienced by loose horse 6th, headed after 3 out, weakened before next, 4th of 5, dist behind Keen On (11-4) at Southwell 2m 4f (4) hvy in Dec.
Notre Pari (IRE) 5-1 (10-5) Held up in rear, closed 6th, hanging right when challenging last, soon led and hung left, driven out, won at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Dec beating One Night In Milan (11-7) by 2 1/4l, 8 ran.
Northofthewall (IRE) 5-4jfav (11-6) Held up in chasing group, headway 2 out, soon chasing leaders, led before last, stayed on strongly, won at Hereford 2m mdn (5) hvy in Dec beating I'm Wiser Now (11-6) by 11l, 14 ran.
Vinnie Dev (IRE) 4-1 (11-4) Mid-division, headway chasing leaders 4th, pushed along before 3 out, weakened before next, 6th of 11, dist behind One Touch (10-12) at Doncaster 2m 3f (4) gs in Dec.
Gortroe Joe (IRE) 40-1 (11-0) Held up and behind, headway chasing leaders before 3 out, travelling well on inside on long run before next, no extra in 4th at the last, 4th of 16, 14l behind Honest Vic (11-9) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Tight Call (IRE) 5-1 (10-13) Led until after 1st, rallied and every chance approaching 2 out, weakened last, 4th of 6, 17 3/4l behind Honest Vic (11-3) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (3) gs in Oct.
Debestyman (IRE) 9-1 (10-1) Pressed leader, led narrowly 8th, ridden and headed before last, kept on until weakened and lost place closing stages, 5th of 11, 9 1/2l behind Goodbye Dancer (10-5) at Cheltenham 3m hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Theinval (FR) 14-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, mistake 9th, behind 4 out, tailed off next, pulled up before 2 out, at Cheltenham 2m hcp (2) sft in Dec.
