chased leaders, pushed along when blundered badly and lost place 13th, bad blunder again next, tailed off
held up in last trio, good headway to chase leaders 9th, mistake and reminder next, soon towards rear, headway again 13th, ridden in 5th and well held when blundered badly again 3 out, pulled up before next
took keen hold, held up, rapid headway to lead approaching 4th, hit 8th, narrowly headed before 10th, led again 13th, strongly pressed when went left and bumped 3 out, soon headed, no impression when weakened to 3rd flat
held up in 6th, headway to chase leaders 9th, lost place next, ridden and struggling in 5th before went modest 4th 3 out, tailed off
took keen hold in rear, struggling 12th, mistake 3 out, left modest 5th before next, tailed off
in touch, headway to chase leaders 9th, challenging in 2nd wehn went right and bumped 3 out, led soon after, driven clear between last 2
held up in last pair, good headway to get in behind leaders 12th, weakened 14th, behind and pulled up before 3 out
led until approaching 4th, pressed leader, led again before 10th, blundered and reminder 11th, narrowly headed next, chased leader and ridden before 3 out dropped to 3rd and mistake 3 out, rallied to 2nd again flat, kept on flat, always held
chased leaders, mistake 4th, lost place 11th, pushed along before next, weakened 13th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
Ben Case has done really well with the fragile Handtheprizeover, who has won both starts this season at Wincanton and Doncaster. He just lasted home two weeks ago, however, and is 8lb higher now. Golden Chieftain isn't exactly consistent and is high enough in the weights at present while Brackloon High dropped away tamely when favourite over C&D last time and Mush Mir's latest second came in a jumpers' bumper. Stoney's Treasure should improve on his third at Newbury but BAILE ANRAI will also have benefited from his comeback run and, if able to reproduce his useful novice form of last season, Ian Williams's charge could be the one today.
Golden Chieftain (IRE) 20-1 (10-2) Chased leaders to 3rd, dropped towards rear next, headway under pressure when mistake 4 out, ridden to chase leading pair after next, no impression in clear 3rd before 2 out, 3rd of 14, 17l behind Unioniste (9-9) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) hvy in Dec.
Kingsmere 25-1 (10-0) Chased leaders, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out, behind and pulled up before next, in a race won by Al Ferof (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m 4f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) sft in Nov, 18 ran.
Mush Mir (IRE) 5-2 (10-9) Led, ridden over 2f out, headed over 1f out, one pace, 2nd of 6, 2 1/2l behind Cross Of Honour (11-0) at Kempton 2m n h flat (4) std in Dec.
Baile Anrai (IRE) 8-1 (10-0) Towards rear, some headway 12th, soon behind, tailed off, 9th of 14, well behind Roberto Goldback (10-10) at Ascot 3m Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gs in Nov.
Prophete de Guye (FR) 8-1 (11-4) Held up in rear on outside, took keen hold, hampered 1st, headway approaching 5th, not fluent 9th, no extra before 2 out, 5th of 9, 15l behind The Rainbow Hunter (11-12) at Ascot 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Nov.
Brackloon High (IRE) 7-2fav (11-4) Mid-division, headway 11th, ridden before 4 out, no impression next, 5th of 8, 18l behind Mister Hyde (10-13) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-140 (3) hvy in Dec.
Stoney's Treasure 16-1 (11-7) Tracked leading pair, went 2nd at 5th, challenged and upsides when mistake 3 out, held next, no extra in 3rd flat, 3rd of 5, 18l behind Restless Harry (11-0) at Newbury 3m grad ch (2) sft in Dec.
On Trend (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Tracked leading trio, hit 5th, mistake 8th, outpaced next, went modest 3rd before 2 out, 3rd of 4, 16l behind Cedre Bleu (11-0) at Ascot 2m 5f grad ch (2) hvy in Dec.
Handtheprizeover 14-1 (9-8) Prominent, challenged 5th, led 4 out, clear next, 8 lengths ahead 2 out, reduced lead last, wandered and almost joined flat, pulled out more to hold off challenge, won at Doncaster 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Dec beating Fill The Power (11-9) by 1/2l, 11 ran.
