held up in rear, headway after 4 out, chased leaders next, mistake 2 out, weakened approaching last
prominent, led before 3 out, ridden after next, ran on well
chased leaders, hit 10, lost place next, soon behind, pulled up 3 out
held up towards rear but in touch, mistake 8th, jumped slowly next, chased winner after 4 out, kept on gamely
tracked leaders, under pressure 4 out, soon weakened
led, blundered 4 out, headed before next, weakened 2 out
The veteran BERTENBAR (NAP) is 2lb out of the handicap but still on a very fair mark despite being raised 4lb for his victory at Huntingdon earlier this month. That was only his second start in two years following injury problems so he should have more in him and can follow up. Fond Memory scored over the minimum trip here in October but didn't entirely convince over this trip at Uttoxeter last time. Morgan's Bay has won five times over fences though never over this far but Rhapando scored over the distance at Leicester in December and was tackling better company over further on his only subsequent start three weeks later. Venetian Lad, a winner at Fontwell on Boxing Day, ran very poorly on his only subsequent start at Plumpton.
Morgan's Bay 9-1 (11-7) Held up, 5th when hit 8th, stayed on before 3 out, left 3rd 2 out, no impression on leading duo, 3rd of 6, 6l behind Pearls Legend (11-8) at Sandown 2m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs.
Rhapando 8-1 (11-2) In touch in 5th, weakened before 4 out, went right and mistake 4 out, pulled up, in a race won by Azure Fly (11-0) at Newbury 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Dec, 11 ran.
Kitegen (IRE) 10-1 (11-0) Held up in last pair, struggling in rear from 7th, tailed off 18th, pulled up before last, in a race won by Vivaccio (11-6) at Ludlow 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Dec, 8 ran.
Fond Memory (IRE) 11-2 (11-8) Held up, headway when not fluent 10th,went 3rd after 3 out, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 9, 13l behind De Vous A Moi (11-6) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft.
Venetian Lad 6-1 (11-11) Close up, ridden 4 out, weakened 2 out, 3rd of 5, 35l behind Noble Friend (10-13) at Plumpton 2m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs.
Bertenbar 3-1fav (10-9) Chased leaders, led 6th, headed after 8th, led again next, mistake last, all out, held on gamely (1 fence ommited), won at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft beating Murtys Delight (11-5) by 2 1/4l, 7 ran.
