mid-division, closed 6th, outpaced after 3 out, well held next
mid-division, not fluent 5th, closed after 4 out, close 3rd 3 out, one pace next, 3rd and well held last
mid-division on inside, ridden after 6th, weakened after 4 out, soon pulled up
tracked leader, led 3 out, ridden and headed next, stayed on same pace flat
held up in rear, took keen hold, in touch after 4 out, outpaced next, well held 4th when blundered last
held up in rear, in touch after 4 out, challenged going well 2 out, led before last, easily
led, headed 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before last
tracked leaders, outpaced after 3 out, mistake and well beaten from 2 out
SPACE WALKER has yet to win over hurdles but was having only his fourth start when just touched off by Dazinski at Warwick on his reappearance. A 6lb rise in the weights has done him no favours but he's still improving and can defy the extra. Hedley Lamarr is similarly unexposed and caught the eye on his handicap debut at Cheltenham. He also looks sure to be thereabouts while there is no reason why Towcester scorer Milord won't run well again as his proven stamina will be an asset. Thatchers Gold arrives off the back of a win at Uttoxeter and Goodbye Dancer is edging towards a decent mark but Salmanazar is possibly best watched back over hurdles.
Salmanazar 9-4fav (11-4) Chased leading pair, pushed along before 9th, reminders from next, struggling 13th, well beaten before 2 out, plugged on, just held for 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner, last of 3, 30 3/4l behind Knock House (11-4) at Huntingdon 3m (4) gs in Apr.
Hedley Lamarr (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, ridden and outpaced after 2 out, weakened last, 6th of 11, 16l behind Leave At Dawn (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Native Gallery (IRE) 25-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, lost place quickly after 4th, pulled up before next, at Ffos Las 2m 6f hcp (3) gs in Apr.
Milord (GER) 9-2fav (11-4) Soon tracked leaders, led before and pecked 2 out, pressed from last, kept on gamely, just held on, won at Towcester 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Nov beating Stephen Hero (11-7) by nk, 9 ran.
Discay 7-1 (11-7) Held up when in view after 2nd, tracking leaders after 4 out, 4th and fading 3 out, 4th of 8, 29 1/2l behind Dubawi Island (11-10) at Ludlow 2m 5f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Goodbye Dancer (FR) 50-1 (11-12) Towards rear, mistake 3rd, struggling 5th, ridden and stayed on into mid-division from last, never nearer, 10th of 24, 14 1/2l behind Unowhatimeanharry (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Space Walker (IRE) 10-1 (11-8) Led, hit 2nd, ridden between last 2, headed narrowly last, rallied and every chance flat, held near finish, 2nd of 15, 3/4l behind Dazinski (11-4) at Warwick 2m 3f hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Thatchers Gold (IRE) 11-2 (11-2) Prominent, pushed along and outpaced before 3 out, kept on to lead towards finish, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Nov beating Western Breeze (11-7) by 1l, 11 ran.
