led to 2nd, remained prominent, challenged winner after 3 out until last, no extra flat
held up, hampered 7th, mistake and weakened 8th, jumped slowly next, soon pulled up
held up, jumped left 5th, 4th when fell 7th
held up, not fluent 2nd, headway 7th, chased leading pair from 9th, weakened approaching last
raced keenly, led 2nd, hit 7th and headed, relegated to 4th when jumped slowly 9th, stayed on same pace from 2 out, went 3rd after last
in touch, dropped to last 4th, hampered 7th, stayed on same pace from 2 out
always prominent, chased leader approaching 3rd, led just after 7th, not fluent 9th, jumped left final 2, edged right flat, driven clear
Nonrunner
Ours has rather harshly been raised 11lbs for his win here earlier this month and with The Randy Bishop set to carry a 7lb penalty for his narrow win at Market Rasen both look worth taking on with RUSSIAN FLAG. Neil King's gelding would not be winning out of turn having been placed in his last three starts, latterly when chasing home Laharna at Huntingdon on Boxing Day, when having Turbo Shandy a long way adrift and a reproduction of that form may well suffice. Trigger Guard is capable but Gary Moore's gelding unseated his rider here last time and he has yet to convince over fences. Naxox fell heavily at Chepstow last time and Venetia Williams has not surprisingly given her runner plenty of time to recover form that so he has to be considered but Russian Flag has solid claims and he is preferred.
Ours (FR) 7-2 (10-12) Tracked leaders, led after last, stayed on well, won at Leicester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft beating High Jack (11-3) by 4 1/2l, 6 ran.
Naxox (FR) 8-1 (11-8) Held up, headway 5th, weakened 5 out and fell 4 out in race won by Araldur (11-3) at Chepstow 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Nov, 10 ran.
Trigger Guard 13-2 (11-8) Not fluent 1st, mid-division, headway 4th, blundered and unseated rider at the 5th in race won by Phar Again (11-9) at Leicester 2m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft, 10 ran.
Great Tsar (IRE) 7-2jt-fav (10-9) Led to 4th, led 5th, not fluent 9th, ridden and headed approaching 4 out, weakening when blundered 3 out, 7th of 9, well behind Classic Role (11-12) at Newbury 2m 2f hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft.
Travelling Fox 11-1 (10-11) Tracked leader and keen, jumped right 1st, led 5th, headed after 13th, weakened quickly, 9th of 11, 39l behind Royal Kicks (10-8) at Kempton 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Nov.
Mickwell Bay 50-1 (11-5) Mid-division, ridden and weakened 8th, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Hearty Dove (10-4) at Wincanton 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft, 13 ran.
Battlefield 6-1 (10-11) Held up towards rear, blundered 6th, hit 7th, badly hampered 8th, progress 10th, no headway from 2 out, 7th of 16, 24l behind Try (10-10) at Uttoxeter 2m 5f cnd hcp chs (5) gf in Oct '07.
Russian Flag (FR) 6-1 (10-12) Held up, headway 8th, led 3 out, headed flat, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 9, 2l behind Classic Role (11-12) at Newbury 2m 2f hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft.
The Randy Bishop 10-1 (11-5) Held up and behind, raced keenly, not fluent 6th, headway when hit next, challenged and going well when mistake and unseated rider 2 out in race won by High Jack (11-3) at Towcester 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Nov, 7 ran.
Turbo Shandy 12-1 (11-5) Prominent, led 2 out, headed, close up when fell at the last in race won by Kilmeena Magic (10-9) at Kempton 2m cnd nov hcp hdl (4) gd in Nov, 18 ran.
King Diamond (FR) 16-1 (10-7) Held up, headway and not fluent 8th, weakened 3 out, 6th of 10, 30l behind Phar Again (11-9) at Leicester 2m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft.
