held up in rear, headway to go in touch 5th, ridden and went 3rd 3 out, close up 2 out, weakened by omitted last fence
pulled hard, held up in rear, headway to go 4th at 4th, jumped slowly 6th, went 2nd 4 out, travelling well, effort by ommited last fence, not ran on
tracked leader until 3rd, ridden 5th, weakened soon after 3 out
led until headed 8th, ridden and weakened after 3 out
held u in rear, blundered 7th, never nearer
mid-division, hit 2nd, ridden and lost place after 4th, behind from 7th
chased leaders, ridden when jumped slowly 6th, mistake next, soon weakened, pulled up 3 out
close up, chased leader 3rd, led 8th, 5 lengths clear 4 out, ridden 2 out, stayed on gamely
held up in rear, mistake 3rd, reminders next, behind when pulled up 2 out
The final event on an all-chase card can go to Parish Oak at the expense of Give Me Love, Kercabellec and Smeathe's Ridge. There is certainly no strength in depth in the finale, and connections of Parish Oak will be disappointed if the 12-year-old does not maintain recent course-and-distance form over Give Me Love. There was three-and-a-half lengths between them when the pair met over the course-and-distance a fortnight ago, and on only slightly worse terms, Tony Carroll's charge should again come out on top, given that improved effort last time. Give Me Love came good at Chepstow last year after a frustrating time, but has not shown much since leaving Paul Nicholls, and probably needs to come down the weights. Kercabellec is at the right end of the handicap but has gone off the boil lately, while Smeathe's Ridge is hardly the most consistent of animals. In a race in which many can be ruled out, the scene looks set for Parish Oak to follow up.
Mighty Matters (IRE) 12-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, ridden 16th, weakened 17th, 7th of 12, well behind Wizard of Edge (10-11) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs.
Give Me Love (FR) 13-2 (11-9) Chased leaders, led 11th, headed after 2 out, soon ridden, one pace, 2nd of 7, 3 1/2l behind Parish Oak (11-5) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft.
Killing Me Softly 25-1 (11-12) Prominent until ridden and weakened approaching 3 out, 7th of 10, well behind Englishtown (11-5) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Jan.
Lonesome Man (IRE) 14-1 (10-4) Led, headed approaching 8th, ridden when unseated rider at the 9th in race won by Butler's Cabin (11-4) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Oct, 6 ran.
Parish Oak 5-1 (11-5) Held up, not fluent 7th, went 2nd approaching 3 out, led after 2 out, ridden out, won at Leicester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft beating Give Me Love (11-9) by 3 1/2l, 7 ran.
Seymar Lad (IRE) 8-1 (11-9) Held up, some headway 5 out, 5 lengths down and outpaced when unseated rider at the 7th in race won by Barton Sun (10-5) at Newcastle 2m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Jan, 11 ran.
Smeathe's Ridge 9-1 (11-11) Mid-division, ridden 12th, soon weakened, 12th of 16, well behind Gunship (10-9) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft.
Kercabellec (FR) 6-1 (11-2) Chased leader, led 7th, headed approaching 3 out, weakened before last, 5th of 8, 10l behind Glen Thyne (11-0) at Towcester 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft.
Avadi (IRE) 25-1 (10-7) Held up, struggling when pulled up 5 out in race won by Cinnamon Line (11-1) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp chs 0-105 (4) hvy in Dec, 14 ran.
