tracked leaders in 3rd, went 2nd and not fluent 7th, ridden before 2 out, weakened before last
in rear and mistake 1st, soon in touch, mistake 5 out, ridden before 3 out, soon weakened
held up mid-division, headway before 2 out, in 2nd and not fluent 2 out, looking held when blundered last, kept on one pace
made all, clear before last, kept on strongly
tracked leader on outer, jumped left, jumped slow 4th, weakened from 9th, pulled up
in rear, soon tracked leaders in 3rd, weakened before 2 out
Nonrunner
Niceonefrankie was sent off favourite on his reappearance at Sandown but got no further than the first fence. He'll be out to recoup losses while Current Event is better than he showed at Worcester last month and is Paul Nicholls only runner at the meeting. Novices Bally Legend, Turbo Du Ranch and Twirling Magnet can only improve with experience but the jury is out on Forget It, who has failed to complete in either start since returning from injury and is now tried in blinkers. JOKER CHOKER pulled too hard in a pipe-opener over hurdles at Aintree last month but will hopefully settle better here and is one from one over fences. Very unexposed, he may still be a step ahead of the handicapper.
Niceonefrankie 3-1fav (11-9) Tracking leaders when stumbled badly on landing and fell 1st, in a race won by Rob Conti (10-12) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp chs 0-140 (3) gs, 6 ran.
Joker Choker (IRE) 25-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, went 2nd 8th until before 3 out where mistake, soon beaten, tailed off, 7th of 10, 48l behind Simonside (10-0) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) sft in Oct.
Bally Legend 9-2 (11-2) In touch, left 3rd at 6th, went left 4 out, plugged on one pace and never any chance with leading duo, 3rd of 11, 16l behind Molotof (11-2) at Taunton 2m nov chs (4) gd in Oct.
Current Event (FR) 13-2 (11-5) Mid-division, hampered 4th, ridden 10th, well beaten 3 out, tailed off, 9th of 14, 47l behind Golden Chieftain (11-9) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Oct.
Turbo Du Ranch (FR) 28-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, reminder after 2nd, close up when mistake 3 out, no impression on winner last, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 14, 7l behind Saphir River (11-2) at Uttoxeter 2m beg chs (4) sft.
Twirling Magnet (IRE) 17-2 (11-3) Held up mid-division, weakened from 5 out, 8th of 11, well behind Safran De Cotte (11-3) at Stratford 2m 7f Beginners Chase (0-125) (4yo+) (3) sft.
Forget It 16-1 (11-9) Mid-division, reminders when blundered and unseated rider 7th, in a race won by Moscow Chancer (10-9) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs, 11 ran.
