towards rear and raced wide, pushed along in mid-division and no impression after 3 out, kept on under strong pressure pressure run-in, went never nearer 4th post
held up towards rear and keen, slightly hampered 1st, smooth headway on outside tracking leaders from 3 out, 2nd on bit approaching 2 out, led before the last, clear when shaken up run-in
led, ridden and headed before 2 out, chased leaders, ridden and weakened after 2 out
held up in last pair, dropped to last and reminders 5th, some headway on inside approaching 2 out, ridden and beaten after 2 out
prominent, fell heavily 1st
patiently ridden and held up in rear, steady headway after 3 out, ridden between last two, disputing modest 3rd last, weakened into 4th run-in, dropped to 5th post
raced wide and keen, chased leaders, hit 3rd, went left 4 out, weakened well before 2 out
in mid-division, hampered 1st, weakened after 3 out
held up in mid-division on outside, headway chasing leaders approaching 3 out, no impression when hung right and hit 2 out, ridden and weakened soon after
mid-division on inside, weakened after 3 out, soon behind, tailed off
chased leaders, pushed along after 3 out, joined for modest 3rd at the last, outright 3rd and one pace run-in
raced keenly, tracked leaders, not fluent 4th, pushed along before 4 out, weakened before next, soon behind
tracked leader, pushed along to lead before 2 out, ridden and headed before the last, kept on same pace and no chance with winner run-in
NonRunner
The last seven winners of this have all started at single-figure odds so the market should prove an invaluable guide. Bennys King represents the yard that won this last year and he looked progressive when getting off the mark at Uttoxeter. Doesyourdogbite has taken really well to hurdling and maintained his unbeaten record on his handicap debut over track and trip on Boxing Day. JALEO, a useful juvenile last season, made a winning reappearance at Lingfield despite meeting trouble in-running. He should be even better over this longer trip and Alex Ferguson again takes off a useful 7lb so he gets the vote. Kalondra is very consistent and has won three of his last five so shouldn’t be far away and a case can also be made for Irish import Sam Red but this looks too far for stablemates Old Guard and Modus. Chesterfield caught the eye at Ascot after a long lay-off and should strip fitter today.
Old Guard 12-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, 2nd before 3rd until approaching next, ridden after 2 out, not pace of front pair before last, 3rd of 6, 15 1/2l behind The New One (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m 1f (1) sft in Dec.
Modus 6-1 (11-7) Held up in mid-division, pushed along in 6th after 3 out, no progress, 7th of 19, 13l behind Brain Power (11-11) at Ascot 2m hcp (1) gs in Dec.
Local Show (IRE) 25-1 (10-6) Mistakes, in touch in mid-division, blundered 4th, struggling and behind after 11th, tailed off when went badly right 13th, pulled up before 2 out, at Newbury 3m 2f hcp (1) gs in Nov.
Doesyourdogbite (IRE) 8-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders on inside, outpaced after 3 out, rallied on inside approaching 2 out, went 2nd last, led run-in, driven and stayed on well, won at Kempton 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Dec beating Spiritofthegames (11-2) by 2l, 15 ran.
Jaleo (GER) 5-4fav (11-12) Held up in last trio, plenty to do as pace lifted on long run approaching 2 out, headway on wide outside soon after, went left and bumped 2 out, ridden into 2nd between last 2, closing when pecked last, stayed on gamely to lead final 150 yards, won at Lingfield 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Dec beating Loves Destination (10-5) by 3/4l, 8 ran.
Kalondra (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Patiently ridden and held up in rear, good headway on inside tracking leaders approaching 2 out, 3rd between last two, challenged last, led run-in, driven out, won at Ascot 2m 6f hcp (3) gs in Dec beating Abbreviate (11-7) by 1l, 12 ran.
Chesterfield (IRE) 33-1 (10-10) Held up towards rear, pushed along on outside after 3 out, never involved, 8th of 19, 15 1/4l behind Brain Power (11-11) at Ascot 2m hcp (1) gs in Dec.
Sam Red (FR) 6-5fav (11-10) Prominent, no impression and one pace from 2 out, 4th of 13, 12 3/4l behind Gambling Girl (11-5) at Killarney 2m 1f gd in May.
Fountains Windfall 1-6fav (11-0) Tracked leaders, led after 3 out, clear next, stayed on well, very easily, won at Fontwell 2m 2f mdn (4) gd in May beating Our Three Sons (11-0) by 17l, 6 ran.
Will O'The West (IRE) 8-1 (10-7) Mid-division, outpaced 3 out, weakened from next, 9th of 13, dist behind Anteros (10-2) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp lst (1) sft in Nov.
Lord Of The Island (IRE) 3-1fav (11-1) Tracked winner until after 3rd, not fluent 5th, chased leaders, 2nd again and every chance when fell heavily 3 out, at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Bennys King (IRE) 4-1fav (11-5) Prominent, led before 3 out, not fluent next, driven out, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Dec beating Pure Vision (10-7) by 3/4l, 10 ran.
Templeross (IRE) 3-1fav (10-10) Mid-division, mistake 3rd, pushed along after 6th, struggling from 8th, well beaten 3 out, 11th of 12, 33 1/4l behind Call To Order (10-4) at Cheltenham 3m hcp (2) gd in Dec.
Little Boy Boru (IRE) 17-2 (10-11) Held up in rear, headway on outside 8th, ridden after 4 out, 5 lengths 4th 3 out, closed from 2 out, 2nd last, 3/4 length down flat, held by winner, stayed on, 2nd of 11, 3/4l behind Splash of Ginge (11-12) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
