held up in rear, blundered badly 5th, not keen after, mistake 8th, pulled up before 10th
held up in rear, headway approaching 4 out, went 2nd 2 out, challenged last, edged left flat, stayed on under strong pressure to lead near finish
tracked leaders, raced keenly, weakened 14th, blundered and unseated rider 4 out
led, ridden approaching 2 out, headed near finish,
mid-division, headway approaching 7th, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off
chased leader to 7th, 2nd again 11th until approaching 4 out, weakened before 3 out
chased leaders, jumped left 1st, went 2nd approaching 4 out, ridden approaching 3 out, 3rd and beaten when mistake last, weakened flat
chased leaders, went 2nd 7th until 11th, weakened 14th
in rear, pushed along 10th, hit 12th, ridden 14th, stayed on approaching last, never dangerous
held up, tendence to jump left, not fluent 2nd or 3rd, blundered 10th, behind from 13th
NATOUMBA should be spot on for this after a recent spin and can take the prize from Jacarado. It's a handicap chase that won't live long in the memory, but Natoumba comes from the in-form Henry Daly yard and he blew off the cobwebs after a break with a decent performance at Towcester last month. He handles cut well enough and with the opposition plenty weak enough he can defy top weight. Jacarado was last seen winning at Towcester a couple of weeks ago and races here unpenalised, so he will have his supporters. Consistency is not a strength of his, however, and we are happy enough to take him on. Pop Ahead has ground to suit but has stamina to prove and the handicapper is reluctant to let him drop in the weights despite a string of defeats, so we are not enthused with his chance. Pharanto represents a yard in tremendous form but has jumping issues to overcome after unseating when unfancied last time and pointing winner Himself Dreams On would be of interest if there is any support for him, but we'll take Natoumba on this occasion.
Natoumba (FR) 22-1 (11-7) Towards rear, hampered 4th, pushed along 5th, hit 9th, headway 2 out, stayed on under pressure flat, nearly got 2nd, 3rd of 13, 4 1/2l behind Randolph O'Brien (11-5) at Towcester 2m 6f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Oct.
Pop Ahead (IRE) 5-1 (11-8) Held up towards rear, raced keenly, stumbled bend after 7th, headway 10th, weakened 2 out, 5th of 11, 14l behind Artipreuil (11-9) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Oct.
Himself Dreams On (IRE) 13-8fav (12-0) Led 2-3 & 13-14; outpcd 3 out, 2nd of 10, 7l behind Parsifal (12-0) at Chaddesley Corb' 3m ptp frm in May.
Breiz Dream's (FR) 40-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, mistake 15th, ridden and headway approaching 2 out, soon one pace, kept on to take 3rd flat, 3rd of 9, 20l behind College Ace (11-6) at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs.
Pharanto (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Mid-division, jumped right, mistake and unseated rider at the 4th in race won by Randolph O'Brien (11-5) at Towcester 2m 6f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Oct, 13 ran.
Donald Will Do (IRE) 20-1 (11-2) With leader, led 4th to 6th, led 7th until after 12th, weakened approaching 4 out, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Earcomesannie (9-10) at Uttoxeter 3m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf in Jun, 10 ran.
Royal Hilarity (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) In touch, hit 10th, weakened approaching 14th, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Syncopated Rhythm (10-10) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp chs 0-90 (5) gs in Oct, 16 ran.
Jacarado (IRE) 15-2 (10-8) Chased leader, led approaching 5th, headed and pecked 8th, led approaching 10th, hung left then jumped right last, all out, won at Towcester 2m 6f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs beating Extra Bold (11-8) by 1/2l, 6 ran.
Overton Lad 12-1 (11-10) Mid-division, weakened after 8th, behind when pulled up at the last in race won by Acosta (11-5) at Hereford 3m 2f hcp hdl (5) sft, 13 ran.
Sylvan Shack (IRE) 17-2 (11-5) In touch, badly hampered 5th, weakened after 8th, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Lily Tara (11-3) at Wetherby 2m 7f cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Apr, 24 ran.
Charlottes Webb (IRE) 28-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, behind from 10th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Randolph O'Brien (11-5) at Towcester 2m 6f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Oct, 13 ran.
