last pair, driven after 13th, headway approaching 4 out, 2nd before 3 out, ridden after last, one pace and no chance with winner
behind, reminders after 2nd, ridden along in modest 5th after 4 out, 4th next, went 3rd at the last, kept on same pace
chased leaders, weakened after 13th, poor 6th when pulled up before 2 out
tracked winner until 13th, chased leaders, weakening when mistake 4 out, pulled up soon after
raced wide, chased leaders, ridden along going out on final circuit, weakened approaching 13th, tailed off 4 out, poor 7th when pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders, pushed along before 14th, 3rd 3 out, no impression when went left 2 out, ridden and weakened into 4th at the last
kept widest, held up, headway chasing leaders 5th, 2nd 13th, no impression when lost 2nd before 3 out, weakened and poor 5th when pulled up before 2 out
occasionally jumped left, made virtually all, hit 9th, clear before 3 out, stayed on strongly
Lord Heathfield has won five times between the flags but was scoring for the first time under Rules at Uttoxeter last month. However, he’ll strip fitter here and should be thereabouts again, despite a 7lb higher mark. Heroes Or Ghosts has been second in three of his five runs over fences but is still creeping up the weights. Themanfrom Minella makes his seasonal reappearance but his stable is going well and his rider claims 7lb. SONG SAA tries a new trip but she’s unexposed over fences and did win on heavy and soft going over hurdles last year. Tom George’s mare could be the answer to this if she lasts home as Golanova and Desert Joe have become disappointing and Coolking ran poorly on his comeback at Plumpton.
Themanfrom Minella (IRE) 9-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, mistake 10th, outpaced 16th, weakening when not fluent and hampered 4 out, 7th of 12, dist behind Solstice Son (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (3) sft in Apr.
Lord Heathfield (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, led before last, held on towards finish, won at Uttoxeter 3m hcp (4) sft in Dec beating Brownville (11-12) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Golanova 4-1 (11-11) Tracked leaders on inside, pushed along after 10th and 12th, driven from next, mistake and weakened 4 out, last of 6, dist behind Sartorial Elegance (11-12) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Irish Thistle (IRE) 9-1 (11-9) Led, headed soon after 2nd, led again 6th, headed 4 out, ridden next, kept on same pace, 4th of 8, 14l behind Unzing (11-4) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Desert Joe (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, mistake 9th, pecked and lost place next, closed 11th, ridden 13th, weakened before 2 out, 6th of 9, 27 3/4l behind Yanmare (10-4) at Towcester 3m hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Heroes Or Ghosts (IRE) 8-1 (10-5) Held up in mid-division, steady headway tracking leaders 11th, tracked leading pair 13th, 2nd 14th, pushed along and every chance 3 out, held next, one pace and no chance with winner run-in, 2nd of 13, 8l behind Onderun (10-3) at Lingfield 2m 7f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Song Saa 6-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, headway 9th, not fluent 11th, close 3rd when blundered 13th, 2nd from 3 out until before next, soon weakened, 7th of 9, 33 1/2l behind Still Believing (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Dec.
Coolking 4-1 (11-4) Led until 2nd, led 6th, headed next, ridden after 13th, weakened before 4 out, 5th of 6, dist behind Sartorial Elegance (11-12) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
