held up until blundered and fell 3rd
chased leaders, went 2nd 5th, led 10th, pressed but staying on when blundered and fell 3 out
tracked leader, mistake 3rd, jumped slowly and lost 2nd 5th, reminders next, weakened and blundered 4 out, pulled up before next
prominent, went 2nd at 5th, challenging when left in lead 3 out, blundered next, jumped left and headed last, kept on under pressure, run-in
not over fluent, held up in rear, mistake 10th, headway to chase leaders from 4 out, left 3rd 3 out, chased winner soon after last, not quicken, run-in
mistake 1st, in touch, chased leaders from 11th, went 2nd 4 out, led last, driven out
held up in rear, headway 11th, ridden next, weakened after 4 out
held up, ridden 10th, well behind and struggling 4 out
led to 10th, driven and lost place next, soon tailed off, pulled up before 3 out
mistakes, in touch, blundered 3rd, mistake 6th, blundered and lost place 9th, tailed off and pulled up after 11th
Rosses Point was value for more than the three-length winning margin at Fontwell last time and is taken to defy his 14lb higher mark so is taken to score at the main expense of Ironside and Trenance. The last mentioned has claims on the form shown when successful at Exeter last month but jumping problems surfaced again at Towcester subsequently and he remains one to wary of in the jumping department. The handicapper has taken a chance with Mandingo Chief who makes more appeal than top weight Celtic Major, who has given little cause for optimism of late. Happy Shopper is lightly raced and open to improvement but Martin Pipe's gelding looks nothing out of the ordinary and is probably best watched on his handicap debut. Henry Day's Ironside showed better form at Haydock last time and has to be considered off a 1lb lower mark to day but there was plenty to like about the way that Rosses Point won at Fontwell and he is taken to follow up.
Celtic Major (IRE) 12-1 (11-2) Close up, hit 9th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Kilty Storm (10-13) at Newbury 3m cnd hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs, 15 ran.
Happy Shopper (IRE) 33-1 (11-1) Prominent, hampered 6th, weakened next, 7th of 16, well behind Tokala (11-4) at Hereford 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) sft.
Ironside (IRE) 10-1 (10-0) In touch, lost place 14th, stayed on flat, 3rd of 10, 13l behind Lord Brock (11-2) at Haydock 3m nov hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft.
Mandingo Chief (IRE) 8-1 (11-1) Behind, headway 6th, mistake 8th, weakened 12th, tailed off when pulled up 5 out in race won by Datito (10-13) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-110 (E) hvy in Dec, 13 ran.
Rosses Point (IRE) 3-1fav (10-8) Held up towards rear, good headway from approaching 11th, chased leader 4 out, led on bit and hit 3 out, soon clear, eased close home, won at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs beating Smart Guy (10-9) by 3l, 9 ran.
Trenance 6-1 (11-0) Held up rear, headway 11th, ridden and 4th when fell 4 out in race won by Graceful Dancer (10-11) at Towcester 3m chs 0-90 (F) gs in Dec, 14 ran.
Joseph Beuys (IRE) 16-1 (10-5) Held up, some headway 7th, ridden approaching 3 out, 4th and weakening when mistake 3 out, 5th of 8, 47l behind Hoh Viss (11-5) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nov hdl (E) hvy in Dec.
Toy Boy (IRE) 66-1 (11-6) Held up mid-division, headway 7th, ridden and weakened halfway, tailed off when pulled up at the 15th in race won by Basilea Star (11-6) at Warwick 3m 2f beg chs (E) sft in Dec, 9 ran.
Banaluso (IRE) 14-1 (9-13) Jumped slowly in rear, ridden 6th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Barton Nic (11-5) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft, 7 ran.
Mr Crawford 66-1 (9-7) Held up towards rear, hampered 7th, weakened 9th, 9th of 14, 50l behind King Coal (11-2) at Exeter 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-105 (E) gs in Nov.
