held up towards rear on outside, headway 8th, close 3rd 4 out, weakened 2 out
led until 10th, weakened 3 out
towards rear, not fluent 1st, ridden 7th, headway 10th, weakened after next, pulled up before 4 out
held up, last when mistake and reminder 5th, mistake 8th, pulled up before 10th
prominent, led 11th, pressed last, stayed on well, in command towards finish
held up, outpaced 4 out, weakened before 2 out
tracked leaders, lost place before 4 out, weakened before 2 out
held up in rear, headway from 7th, went 2nd 4 out, every chance last, held towards finish
prominent, 3rd from 4 out, no impression flat, stayed on towards finish
Bekkensfirth has been lightly raced and is a previous course and distance winner. He holds the quirky Go West Young Man on Sandown running. Bestwork beat Kincora Fort at Huntingdon on Boxing Day but the runner-up could reverse the form on today’s terms. Lord Bryan made all at Chepstow last month but has now been pulled up in three of his last six starts. TRIPLE CHIEF is proving very consistent and Bryony Frost’s claim in a big plus in a race like this. Despite another 4lb rise since his second at Exeter, he shouldn’t be far away again. Indian Native has shown promise over fences and will enjoy the going so can’t be ignored.
Bekkensfirth 7-1 (11-8) Held up towards rear, smooth headway approaching 13th, headway into 5th after 4 out, well held when stumbled badly 2 out, weakened, 6th of 11, 7 3/4l behind Chef D'Equipe (11-12) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Jan.
Lord Bryan (IRE) 9-5fav (11-12) Led, headed well before 3 out (normal 4 out), soon weakened and pulled up, at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (4) hvy in Jan.
Bestwork (FR) 8-1 (11-8) Chased leader until 7th, chased leaders, weakened before mistake 3 out, 6th of 8, 31 1/4l behind Not Another Muddle (11-12) at Leicester 2m hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Indian Native (IRE) 10-1 (11-2) Mid-division, headway 7th, chasing leaders when hampered 9th, ridden to challenge 2 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 14, 11l behind Miss Tongabezi (11-4) at Towcester 2m 6f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Kincora Fort (IRE) 4-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, went 2nd 2 out, not fluent last, stayed on, unable to trouble winner, 2nd of 9, 2l behind Bestwork (11-8) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Go West Young Man (IRE) 40-1 (11-0) Held up in touch in 5th, jumped right and mistake 11th and next, weakening when mistake 4 out, 7th and no chance when pecked 2 out, 7th of 11, 16 3/4l behind Chef D'Equipe (11-12) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Jan.
Triple Chief (IRE) 5-1 (10-10) Chased clear leading pair, closed before 8th, went 2nd approaching 3 out, every chance from next, still almost upsides last, no extra towards finish, 2nd of 9, 1 1/4l behind Siruh Du Lac (11-4) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
The Bay Birch (IRE) 12-1 (9-11) Chased leaders, 6th halfway, ridden and no extra before 3 out, soon towards rear, kept on one pace behind straight, 7th of 17, dist behind Flynsini (10-10) at Punchestown 2m 7f hcp Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Dylanseoghan (IRE) 9-1 (10-10) Tracked leaders, mistake and unseated rider 6th, at Leicester 2m 7f hcp (4) sft in Jan.
