led, not fluent 3rd, reminders 9th (water), headed 13th and ridden, weakened rapidly and pulled up before 4 out
held up in touch, close up approaching 4 out, awkward 3 out, upsides 2 out, ridden clear before last, comfortably
held up in midfield, took closer order 14th, chased leaders 4 out, fell 3 out
close up, pushed along in midfield after 8th, gradually lost further ground 11th, hit 12th, ridden after 13th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
held up towards rear, modest headway when not fluent 12th, beaten when pulled up before 4 out
prominent, hit 10th, weakened rapidly 11th, pulled up before 12th
held up behind leaders, jumped left 6th, ridden after 9th (water), weakening when hit 13th, pulled up before 4 out
held up, ridden and lost touch 7th, tailed off 8th, pulled up before 9th
midfield, headway to chase leader 5th, close up 10th, led after 12th, ridden approaching 3 out, joined 2 out, headed before last, weakened
midfield, relegated towards rear and reminders 6th, steadily losing touch 10th, not fluent 12th, weakened rapidly when mistake 13th, pulled up before 14th
midfield, awkward 6th, headway to chase leaders 13th, ridden after 4 out, still in touch when blundered and unseated 3 out
held up in rear, ridden after 11th, well beaten 13th, pulled up before 4 out
towards rear, pushed along after 8th, well adrift 9th, pulled up before 4 out
With the going much better on the chase course this afternoon, it’s difficult to oppose DE BARLEY BASKET (NAP) in his hat-trick bid. After a pipe-opener at Market Rasen, Ben Pauling’s novice has been on a steep upward curve over fences and it’s unlikely that a penalty will stifle his progress. Agent Valdez will need to jump better than with third over track and trip last month and It's For Alan, though second twice over the larger obstacles, also needs improvement. Blue N Yellow has placed three times over fences but is now 0-7 so Arcadian Spring may be a better long-term prospect.
De Barley Basket (IRE) 9-4jfav (11-7) Jumped well, made all, clear before 3 out, stayed on strongly unchallenged, won at Taunton 2m 6f hcp (5) gd in Nov beating Write It Down (11-11) by 12l, 10 ran.
Agent Valdez 13-2 (11-12) Mid-division, headway 7th, steadied after next, pecked badly 12th, headway after 14th, led 4 out, pecked 3 out, headed before last, no impression on winner flat, lost 2nd close home, 3rd of 11, 7 1/2l behind Rose Of Aghaboe (12-3) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp (5) gd in Nov.
Mill Race King (IRE) 22-1 (10-12) Always towards rear, never on terms, 5th of 9, dist behind Fern Hill (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 4f (4) sft in Nov.
Blue N Yellow (IRE) 4-1jfav (11-8) Prominent, mistake 9th, blundered and weakened normal 3 out, 11th of 15, 32 1/4l behind Bogoss Du Perret (10-9) at Stratford 2m 7f hcp (5) gd in Oct.
Ardbruce (IRE) 66-1 (11-6) Held up last, some minor late headway past beaten rivals, never dangerous, 10th of 15, 30l behind Cremant (11-12) at Stratford 2m 3f hcp (5) gs in Nov.
It's For Alan 22-1 (11-2) Never that fluent, led until 3rd, led again next, hit 6th, headed next, chased leader until before 13th, chased leaders, 2nd again 3 out, led before 2 out, ridden headed and mistake last, stayed on same pace run-in, 2nd of 9, 4 1/4l behind Mr Palmtree (10-13) at Huntingdon 3m hcp (5) gd in Nov.
Arcadian Spring (IRE) 66-1 (10-12) Midfield, lost place and ridden 4 out, lost ground quickly before 2 out, no extra, 9th of 10, dist behind Zyon (10-12) at Wincanton 2m 5f (4) gs in Nov.
Ringmoylan (IRE) 200-1 (11-0) Took keen hold, chased leaders, weakened before 3 out, tailed off, last of 12, dist behind Piggy Winkle (11-4) at Market Rasen 2m 7f hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Lord Sparky 4-1 (11-12) Chased leaders out wide, stumbled badly 15th, ridden and one pace in 3rd before 2 out, weakened into 4th when blundered badly last, 4th of 9, 24 1/4l behind Wye Aye (11-8) at Huntingdon 3m hcp (5) gd in Nov.
Leskinfere (IRE) 11-1 (10-1) Close up, tracked leaders 8th, pushed along 5 out, outpaced next, left 3rd at last, 3rd of 6, 26l behind Gleno (11-11) at Fakenham 3m hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Glorious Boru (IRE) 10-1 (10-13) Mid-division, headway 9th, tracked leaders 4 out, pushed along and a length back in 3rd 3 out, not fluent when made challenge 2 out, kept on and every chance last, no extra run-in, 3rd of 14, 3l behind City Never Sleeps (11-2) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (5) sft in Oct.
Wherewouldugetit (IRE) 12-1 (10-4) Chased leaders, mistake and lost place 2nd, well beaten from 9th, went modest flat, 4th of 11, 22 3/4l behind De Barley Basket (11-4) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (5) gd in Nov.
Remember Me Well (IRE) 33-1 (10-0) Led, mistake and headed 5th, ridden and weakened, tailed off, finished 8th, disqualified - took wrong course, 8th of 9, dist behind at Fontwell 2m 3f hcp (5) hvy in Nov.
