not always fluent, held up in rear, some headway on outside and slow 9th, weakened 11th, tailed off
chased leading pair, went 2nd 6th, led 12th, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, soon lost 2nd, weakening when hit 3 out, left modest 4th and slightly hampered next
chased leader until 6th, chased leaders, hit 9th, ridden and weakened next, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
held up in touch on inside, not fluent 7th, headway approaching 10th, went 2nd approaching 3 out until 3 out, soon driven, no impression when left in 3 lengths 2nd again 2 out, stayed on same pace flat
held up in last trio, headway 7th, chased leaders 4 out, stayed on to challenge 3 out led soon after, left in 3 lengths lead 2 out, driven out from last
led, headed 12th, chased leaders until weakened after 4 out,
chased leaders until lost place before 10th, rallied 12th, went 2nd next, led approaching 3 out, soon joined, headed soon after 3 out, driven and 1 length down but still chance when fell 2 out
held up in rear, pushed along before 10th, steady headway approaching 12th, staying on in 4th when hit 3 out, no impression when left modest 3rd and slightly hampered next
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Both Havingotascoobydo and last year's runner-up Triangular would have claims in this grade if recapturing their best form, though the former is more likely to go to Wetherby. Niceonefrankie represents an in-form yard but may still be a few pounds too high and Five Rivers needs to improve a little on what he's shown so far over fences, though is probably capable of doing so. Cruchain is 10lb lower than successful 12 months ago so has to go on the short-list but BALLY LEGEND has the better recent form. Caroline Keevil's eight-year-old has won off a higher mark over hurdles and has been placed in all three starts over fences. He looks ready to open his account now.
Triangular (USA) 40-1 (10-5) Mid-division on outside, lost place 8th, headway before 10th, lost place after 14th, behind when mistake 16th, tailed off 5 out, refused next, in a race won by The Package (11-1) at Wincanton 3m 1f listed hcp chs (1) gs in Nov, 12 ran.
Manger Hanagment (IRE) 66-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, effort 5 out to next, weakened before 2 out, 9th of 15, 23l behind Ulck Du Lin (10-2) at Newbury 2m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Dec.
Wessex King (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Led, jumped violently right 1st, raced wide and continued to jump right, headed 8th, blundered next, soon lost place, behind when pulled up before 11th, in a race won by Pasco (11-9) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Oct, 6 ran.
Niceonefrankie 9-2 (11-6) Led, headed narrowly 3 out, kept on until ridden and one pace approaching last, no chance with winner when lost 2nd flat, 3rd of 7, 7l behind Bocciani (10-11) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp chs 0-140 (3) sft.
Bally Legend 11-2 (11-0) In touch in 5th, outpaced in 4th place when left modest 3rd 3 out, stayed on to 2nd approaching last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 7l behind Changing Times (11-3) at Taunton 2m 3f Novice Limited Handicap Chase (0-135) (4yo+) (3) sft in Dec.
Midnight Haze 25-1 (11-12) Held up in touch, slow 2nd, dropped to rear at 10th, blundered 13th, pulled up before next, in a race won by Pete The Feat (11-7) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy in Dec, 8 ran.
Five Rivers (IRE) 8-1 (11-11) In touch, mistake 4th, reminders and struggling in 5th after 10th, kept on to modest 4th flat, 4th of 8, 17l behind Sustainability (11-9) at Newbury 2m 2f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Dec.
Cruchain (IRE) 25-1 (11-12) Held up behind, in 5th before 4 out, headway 3 out, went 3rd 2 out, weakened last, 3rd of 7, 25l behind Noble Legend (11-11) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Nov.
Havingotascoobydo (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) Mid-division, headway 9th, blundered 2 out, weakened last, 10th of 20, 32l behind Nadiya De La Vega (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-150 (2) gs in Oct.
Goring One (IRE) 9-4 (10-8) Led until approaching 3rd, chased clear leader, blundered 16th, driven before 3 out, closed before last, stayed on to lead final 150 yards, won at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Dec beating Plein Pouvoir (11-11) by 1 1/4l, 5 ran.
