chased leaders, outpaced 4 out, weakened next, tailed off when pulled up before last
chased leaders, mistake 3rd, went 2nd 11th, led next to 13th, led again 4 out, headed soon after, stayed pressing winner, upsides last, not quicken run-in
chased leader, driven along 10th, lost 2nd next, outpaced when hit 12th, kept on under pressure from 3 out, never dangerous
held up in rear, keen hold from 8th, mistake 14th, chasing leading pair when ridden after 4 out, upsides when hit 2 out and last, one pace run-in
held up in touch, mistake 1st, headway to lead 13th to 4 out, ridden to lead again soon after, hard pressed from 2 out, driven and went left last, held on under pressure run-in
chased leaders, ridden and struggling when mistake 10th, soon lost touch, tailed off when pulled up before 13th
led until mistake and headed 12th, lost place and mistake 13th, kept on again from 3 out (struke into, lame)
always behind, ridden and lost touch 10th, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
Mulligatawny is gradually slipping to an attractive mark but Nick Gifford's gelding has given little sign of encouragement of late and a safer bet looks to be What A Man, who is preferred to Co Optimist. The selection is unexposed over fences after just four starts, latterly when finding Meggie's Beau five lengths too good at Leicester earlier this month, and looks to have been allotted a fair mark for his handicap debut. Flying Fortune has along absence to overcome and is probably best watched on his first outing since April 2003, while Tommy Carson has failed to reproduce the form of his course and distance success in October in three subsequent outings. The handicapper has given Commanche Jim a chance as he has Father Abraham but neither has given potential backers much sign of hope in recent spins. Of more interest may be the novice Co Optimist, who looks on a fair mark and has at least been running reasonably consistently of late. What A Man looks more progressive though and he is preferred.
Mulligatawny (IRE) 13-2 Tracked leader, led 3rd to 7th, close up until weakened 10th, stayed on to take moderate 3rd last, 3rd of 4, 32l behind Tregastel at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (D) sft in Jan.
What A Man (IRE) 6-5fav Led until 3rd, led again 5th, mistake 12th, headed after 3 out, soon ridden, hit last, no impression, 2nd of 8, 5l behind Meggie's Beau at Leicester 2m 7f mdn chs (E) gs.
Tommy Carson 20-1 Behind, driven along and not going well from 7th, lost touch 13th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by News Maker at Kempton 3m cnd hcp chs 0-115 (E) gs, 11 ran.
Flying Fortune (IRE) 10-1 Held up, headway 7th, led 2 out, soon headed, rallied and challenged last, stayed on, 2nd of 16, 1 1/2l behind Fork Lightning at Cheltenham 3m nov hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gd in Apr '03.
Co Optimist 16-1 Held up towards rear, some headway and ridden 2 out, never nearer, 3rd of 15, 22l behind She's Our Native at Hereford 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-100 (E) sft.
Commanche Jim (IRE) 9-2 Chased leaders, pressed winner from 14th, ridden and weakened approaching 4 out, 3rd of 9, 16l behind Happy Hussar at Exeter 3m 1f hcp chs 0-105 (E) sft in Jan.
Father Abraham (IRE) 12-1 Held up until headway to track leader 5th to 8th, weakened 12th, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Kittenkat at Folkestone 3m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (E) gs in Jan, 9 ran.
Tallow Bay (IRE) 25-1 Soon well behind, blundered 7th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Just Anvil at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp chs 0-90 (F) hvy in Jan, 13 ran.
